England suffer another Covid-19 blow as Ellis Genge tests positive ahead of Australia game
Ellis Genge was named in England's starting line up for the game against Australia
©PA
England have suffered another blow in the ongoing autumn international campaign as loose-head prop Ellis Genge has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of weekend's clash against Australia.
The 26-year-old's sample returned positive following a PCR test on Friday morning and now has been withdrawn from the squad. He will undergo 10-day isolation in accordance to government guidelines.
Genge becomes the second player to be tested positive for Covid-19 after Joe Marler, who played in England's previous game against Tonga and is currently in isolation.
Genge's exclusion meant uncapped Sale prop Bevan Rodd comes into the starting XV with Newcastle's Trevor Davison, who played a solitary game in July has been named on the bench.
"Genge returned a positive PCR result this morning [Friday] from a test taken yesterday. He immediately went into isolation," read a statement from Rugby Football Union.
"No other positive test results were received among players or staff. The group has undergone an additional round of LFT and PCR testing today.
"The squad have trained this morning at Twickenham Stadium ahead of tomorrow's match."
England XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Manu Tuilagi, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Jonny May, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Bevan Rodd
Reserves: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Trevor Davison, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Sam Simmonds, 22 Raffi Quirke, 23 Max Malins
