England have been forced into another change to their squad ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland, as Dan Kelly suffered an injury.
The Leicester Tigers centre pulls out of the build-up to the match at Twickenham on Saturday with a thigh problem in a cruel blow to the 21-year-old back.
Kelly has been replaced in the squad by club team-mate Guy Porter, who is familiar with the England squad after featuring for the Red Rose side last year.
Porter replaces injured Kelly
The Rugby Football Union stated that Porter joined up with the squad who are training at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park.
England head coach Steve Borthwick has a selection dilemma in his midfield against Scotland, with Henry Slade and Elliot Daly also having been ruled out.
Click Here: Koke jersey sale
Borthwick could opt to start Owen Farrell at inside centre with Marcus Smith at 10 or name his captain in the main playmaking jersey with others outside.
Other options available to England include Ollie Lawrence, Manu Tuilagi and now Porter, with this disruption in personnel far from ideal before Saturday.
After facing Scotland at Twickenham in their Six Nations opener, England will then take on Italy on home soil before a week’s break in the Championship.
Jonny Gray links up with Scotland
Meanwhile, Scotland have added second-row Jonny Gray to their squad ahead of their Six Nations opener against England in a boost to their forward stocks.
The Exeter lock did not attend the training camp in Edinburgh last week because of what the Scottish Rugby Union described as “an ongoing medical issue”.
Edinburgh lock Jamie Hodgson was brought in on a temporary basis but Gray has now been included after starting and scoring for the Chiefs last weekend.
“After missing the training week in Edinburgh, Gray has rejoined the squad in Spain,” read a brief SRU statement on Monday.
“Jamie Hodgson has remained with his club.”