ENGLAND CAPTAIN ON BENCH FOR OPENER SIX NATION GAME AGAINST WHALES

Maro Itoje, the captain of England, will be benched for his team's opening Six Nations match against Wales on Saturday. Itoje has been grieving the death of his mother, Florence, with Saracens teammate Jamie George – himself a former England captain – now leading the side out as they strive to make it 12 wins in a row.

However, if he takes the pitch at Twickenham, fellow forward Itoje will assume the captaincy. Henry Arundell will start for England for the first time since the 2023 World Cup after coach Steve Borthwick made an unusually early announcement on Monday, naming him on the left flank.

Two and a half years ago, Arundell played in the bronze final against Argentina. However, when he joined Racing 92, a French club, he was no longer eligible for England selection due to a Rugby Football Union regulation that essentially prohibited players at non-English clubs from test duty.

Now at Bath, the 23-year-old flier made his England comeback as a replacement against Fiji in November.