England call up Lozowski as Murley ruled out for France clash

England has called up Saracens centre Alex Lozowski to the squad ahead of their crucial Six Nations match against France at Twickenham.

The move comes after winger Cadan Murley was ruled out due to a foot injury sustained during his international debut against Ireland.

Murley, who finally won his first England cap in last weekend’s 27-22 defeat to Ireland after being named in nine previous squads, now faces an unfortunate setback.

His absence has opened up a potential opportunity for Ollie Sleightholme or Tom Roebuck to step in on the wing for the match against France.

Lozowski, a familiar name in England's rugby circles, last played for the national side in 2018 under Eddie Jones but was dropped after struggling in a match against Japan.

Despite being a key figure for Saracens in recent seasons, he remained overlooked for international selection. Steve Borthwick recalled him for last year’s November internationals, but he did not make the matchday squad for any of the four games.

England has also received a boost with the return of experienced hooker Jamie George, who has recovered from a hamstring injury. George, recently replaced by Maro Itoje as captain, joins a competitive selection battle among four hookers vying for a starting spot in Saturday’s fixture.

Borthwick’s squad heads into this match under mounting pressure, having suffered seven consecutive defeats against Tier One opposition. Their only victories in the last nine games have come against Japan, equaling their worst losing streaks recorded in 2006 and between 1904-06.

Borthwick is set to announce his final team selection on Thursday, though he has previously revealed the lineup earlier in the week, as seen before the Ireland game.