Itoje to captain England in Six Nations shake-up

Maro Itoje has been promoted to England captain for the Six Nations, replacing Saracens team-mate Jamie George in the role.

Itoje, 30, led England to an age-grade world title in 2014 but only stepped up to skipper Saracens this season in the wake of Owen Farrell's departure.

"I'm at a point in my career where I feel ready to give my all to serve the team and the fans with the captaincy, and also produce my best on the field," he said.

Elsewhere in coach Steve Borthwick's 36-strong squad, in-form number eight Tom Willis is called up while Ben Spencer, who started the autumn as first-choice scrum-half, drops out of the squad to make way for Alex Mitchell's return from injury.

Leicester's Dan Cole, 37, is also left out with his clubmate Joe Heyes and Sale's Asher Opoku-Fordjour brought in as tighthead options.

Bath's Ted Hill is selected with his clubmate Sam Underhill set to have surgery on an ankle injury while Harlequins' Cadan Murley comes in to replace Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who is recovering from a shoulder complaint.

Oscar Beard and Fraser Dingwall are the alternative midfield options to the first-choice pairing of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade, with no place for Alex Lozowski.

More to follow.

Forwards:

Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps)

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)

Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)

Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps)

Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)

Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps)

Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 20 caps)

Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)

Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain

Jamie George (Saracens, 97 caps) – vice-captain

Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)

Ted Hill (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)

Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain

George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)

Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)

Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 7 caps)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)

Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap)

Backs:

Oscar Beard (Harlequins, uncapped)

Elliot Daly (Saracens, 69 caps)

Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)

George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps)

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)

Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps)

Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)

Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)

Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps)

Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps)

Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)

Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)

Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps)

Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps)

Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)