Lancaster Chooses Ford as Flood Misses Out

20-year old Bath playmaker George Ford has replaced Toby Flood in the England Elite squad, as his international career now looks to be over.

Stuart Lancaster named his Six Nations EPS squad this afternoon, with Ford being the only replacement, as Gloucester's Freddie Burns remains in the squad alongside first-choice fly-half Owen Farrell.

England head coach Lancaster said: "We have kept changes to a minimum because we believe this squad can take us forward into 2015.

"I'm delighted for George, who is rewarded for his form for Bath and we are excited about including him in the senior Elite Player Squad."

Flood, 28, an experienced fixture in the England squad with 60 caps top his name, has chosen to leave Leicester at the end of the season for a yet unspecified French club.

Lancaster added that "given the policy of not selecting players based overseas it's important we allow others to progress.

"I have met Toby Flood several times and told him I really wanted him to stay at Leicester and play for England.

"He has made a lifestyle choice and we respect that."

With a long list of front-lie players currently suffering from injuries, which include the likes of Manu Tualagi, Tom Croft, Marland Yarde and Geoff Parling, eight more players join Ford in in the 35-man Six Nations squad.

They are Northampton centre Luther Burrell, Exeter flanker Tom Johnson, Gloucester wing Jonny May, Wasps prop Matt Mullan, Exeter wing/full-back Jack Nowell, Leicester lock Ed Slater, Sale prop Henry Thomas and Bath wing/full-back Anthony Watson.

Northampton's Stephen Myler, Bath hooker Rob Webber and Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth will also train with the senior squad.

Exeter wing/full-back Jack Nowell was highlighted by Talking Rugby Union as 'one to watch' at the start of the season. Read our feature article on the young West-country flyer here.

England Elite Players Squad:

Forwards:

David Attwood (Bath Rugby), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs

Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)