Courtney Lawes ruled out of Calcutta Cup as injury worries deepen for England head coach Eddie Jones

Forwards Courtney Lawes and Jonny Hill have been ruled out of Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland in yet another hammer blow to England’s preparations.

Lawes, who had been earmarked to replace the injured Owen Farrell as captain, has yet to pass the necessary return to play protocols from a concussion that he apparently suffered for Northampton Saints against Ulster on January 16. Meanwhile, Exeter second row Jonny Hill is still recovering from an ankle injury.

Alfie Barbeary, the Wasps tyro, has been released from the squad alongside Joe Heyes, Orlando Bailey, Louis Lynagh, Luke Northmore, Raffi Quirke and Adam Radwan. The uncapped pair of Ollie Chessum, the Leicester Tigers loose forward, and Ollie Hassell-Collins, the London Irish winger, remain in the 29-man squad.

The loss of Lawes leaves England head coach Eddie Jones needing to look for another candidate to assume the captaincy against Scotland. Flanker Tom Curry, who stood in for Farrell at the Six Nations media launch, is among a group of vice-captains which includes prop Ellis Genge and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.

As much as England will miss Lawes’ leadership, he and Hill will leave just as a big a hole in the pack, which now looks distinctly under-powered heading to Murrayfield. Charlie Ewels, who has often flattered to deceive in an England shirt, is likely to partner Maro Itoje in the second row while the balance of Jones’ back row is now in flux. Nick Isiekwe and Chessum offer the closest alternatives to Lawes at blindside flanker while Lewis Ludlam, who has been in excellent form for Northampton Saints, is also likely to come into the equation. Both Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds have been retained as options at No 8.

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