Jamie George recalled to England squad for Autumn Tests with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Watson out

Jamie George File Photo
PA

Saracens hooker Jamie George has been called up to the England squad for next month’s Autumn Nations Series after Luke Cowan-Dickie was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Exeter Chiefs hooker Cowan-Dickie sustained an ankle injury during his side’s game with Wasps last weekend and, after being assessed, he has had to pull out of Jones’ 34-man squad for the Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa.

George, who was a high-profile absentee from the original squad, has now been drafted into the group - which will travel to Jersey on Monday for a five-day training camp.

Exeter have described the ankle injury as “significant” and have put no timescale on how long Cowan-Dickie will be out of action.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the RFU said: “Luke Cowan-Dickie has withdrawn from the England squad for the Autumn Nations Series with an ankle injury sustained in Exeter Chiefs’ game against Wasps at the weekend.

“Eddie Jones has called up Saracens hooker Jamie George to the squad, which will meet on Monday to travel to Jersey for a five-day training camp as they prepare for the fixtures.

“England will play Tonga (6 November), Australia (13 November) and South Africa (20 November) with all matches at Twickenham Stadium.”

PA news agency understands that Watson will also miss the autumn, and potentially the Six Nations as well if the knee damage sustained late in Bath's home rout by Saracens is confirmed as a ruptured ACL.

The only ray of light in an otherwise bleak afternoon was that Maro Itoje's shoulder injury, which also incurred at the Recreation Ground on Sunday, is not serious and he should be available to face Tonga at Twickenham on November 6.

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