Farrell captain and uncapped Barbeary named in England’s Six Nations squad

Owen Farrell will resume the England captaincy for the Six Nations after he was named in Eddie Jones’s 36-man squad but there is no place for Manu Tuilagi. Jones has named six uncapped players including the Wasps forward Alfie Barbeary and the Bath fly-half Orlando Bailey and confirmed Farrell, who is yet to make his comeback from an injury sustained in the autumn, as his captain.

It is a show of faith from Jones considering Farrell came into last year’s Six Nations, in which England finished a dismal campaign in fifth place, similarly undercooked but the 30-year-old is expected to make his return from an ankle injury for Saracens on Sunday. Bailey’s selection, meanwhile, and that of Marcus Smith means there is no recall for George Ford despite his outstanding form for Leicester.

Tuilagi was also injured during the autumn and has pencilled in Sale’s match against his former club Leicester on 30 January for his comeback. Given the 36 players chosen by Jones will not be available for club duty that weekend Tuilagi has been omitted but is expected to join up with the squad at a later date.

Barbeary is rewarded for his fine form for Wasps, having shaken off a disruptive run of injuries, while Bailey comes in as a rookie fly-half following a first call-up. They are two of six uncapped players selected by Jones with Leicester’s Ollie Chessum, London Irish’s Ollie Hassell-Collins, Luke Northmore of Harlequins and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman also selected.

Elsewhere, there is a return to the squad for Jack Nowell, who has found form again for Exeter, but no reprieve for either Mako or Billy Vunipola. Elliot Daly is conspicuous by his absence, having returned from the injury which ruled him out of England’s autumn campaign. Sam