Six Nations: Courtney Lawes and George McGuigan doubts for England opener after training squad withdrawal | Rugby Union News

Courtney Lawes has been ruled out of England’s Six Nations training camp with a calf injury; George McGuigan is also out with a knee injury; They will be replaced by Tom Dunn and David Ribbans

Lawes limped off in Northampton Saints’ defeat in the Heineken Champions Cup

Courtney Lawes and George McGuigan are doubts for England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland after withdrawing from the training camp through injury.

Lawes limped off in the 29th minute of Northampton’s 31-13 defeat to La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup with a calf injury, while McGuigan is out with a knee injury.

Lawes has been beset with injuries of late and if he is ruled out of the tournament all together it will be a serious blow to England’s chances of a successful campaign.

Following Lawes’ injury, Northampton head coach Phil Dowson said: “Courtney doesn’t appear to be downbeat, he never is, but he felt he couldn’t continue.

“His calf tightened up, he hasn’t had an issue with it before but he will need to see the physio tomorrow and possibly have a scan, so it’s fingers crossed.”

Tom Dunn and David Ribbans have been called up to the squad by head coach Steve Borthwick as the side join up on Monday at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot for a five-day camp.

These injury woes come a day after Jamie George suffered a suspected concussion following a high tackle on Luke Crosbie which resulted in a head-on-head collision.

He was cleared by the Saracens medical team to return to the fray after his 10 minutes in the sin-bin but was subsequently stood down by the independent match doctor. George faces a minimum seven-day stand-down period, with England starting their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday February 4.