Skip to content

Six Nations: England call up Tom Croft and Christian Day to senior squad as injury cover

Image: Christian Day: One of two players called up to the England Senior training squad as cover

Tom Croft and Christian Day have been called up to the England Senior training squad as injury cover for the Six Nations.

Croft and Day have been moved up from the England Saxons squad as back-up for Geoff Parling and Tom Wood, who are currently being fully assessed by the England medical team.

Carl Fearns and James Gaskell will replace Croft and Day in the Saxons squad for the game against Ireland Wolfhounds on Friday.

Parling is suffering from a knee injury and Wood is struggling with an ankle knock.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster will assess the impact of an injury laden round of European action on Monday.

“The players will be fully assessed once they get into camp this evening and it’s too early to give any definitive news on their status.

“Tom's ankle and Owen’s (Farrell) knee has been scanned. Owen will see a specialist this evening and we will be able to provide an update on him and the other injured players tomorrow, along with any other potential additions to the squad.”

Brad Barritt and Luther Burrell are also injury concerns potentially leaving Lancaster with a serious shortage at centre ahead of next weekend's Six Nations opener in Cardiff.

Barritt is battling a knee injury while Burrell suffered a concussion, which could leave the door open for Sam Burgess, currently in the England Saxons squad.

Saxons head coach Jon Callard insists Burgess will be given the chance to show what he can do but called for patience.

"The challenge for us is to get the best out of him, and all the other players as well. We've got to give them that opportunity to show what they can do.

"I think Bath have handled him beautifully: they've given him the experience, slowly put him into a European Cup situation, and given him that.

"And this is the next stage of his development. We're all excited for Sam, but we're just taking it very, very calmly. He's still potentially got three World Cups in him. So I think there's still plenty of time."

Around Sky