Injuries to Courtney Lawes and Jonny May hit England’s Six Nations plans

England’s Six Nations preparations have been rocked by further significant disruption with Courtney Lawes sidelined due to a head injury and Eddie Jones delaying a decision on who will replace the absent Owen Farrell as captain. In another major blow, Jonny May has pulled out of the squad with a knee injury.

Jones was expected to name a new captain on Monday and while England have confirmed that Farrell will miss their opening match against Scotland at the very least – meaning a recall for George Ford – no replacement skipper has been announced. Lawes was the heavy favourite, having stood in successfully during the autumn, but he is now unable to take part in key preparations at England’s training camp in Brighton this week as he undergoes the head injury return-to-play protocols. It is understood Tom Curry will fulfil media duties at the Six Nations launch this week in his role as one of the side’s vice-captains.

With Farrell due to this week discover if he will feature at any stage of the tournament, Jones has summoned Ford while Elliot Daly comes into the squad for May and Nick Isiekwe is added to the group in Brighton as injury cover for Lawes, who faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the Scotland match.

May will also miss England’s trip to Murrayfield, and potentially the following match against Italy, with England said to be planning for life without him for the early stages of the tournament. His absence is a setback for Jones given the Gloucester wing has started every England match – barring the two developmental matches against the USA and Canada last summer – since the 2019 World Cup. May’s withdrawal means a recall for Daly, who missed the autumn campaign through injury and was left out of the