England have been handed a big boost before Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Ireland with the scrumhalf Alex Mitchell passed fit for the trip to Dublin. Mitchell was absent throughout England’s disappointing autumn campaign but his return to fitness is a significant shot in the arm for Steve Borthwick.

Alex Mitchell is set to be fit for England ’s Six Nations opener against Ireland on Saturday in a huge boost for Steve Borthwick. The scrum-half, who has been nursing a knee injury, trained fully in Girona on Monday and is expected to start in Dublin.

Ireland tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong has returned home to Ireland from the squad’s training base in Portugal and has been ruled out of facing England in the opening match of this year’s Six Nations in Dublin on Saturday.

Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations opener against England after suffering a recurrence of a calf strain in training, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said on Sunday.

British and Irish Lions prop Tadhg Furlong will miss Ireland's Six Nations opener against England on Saturday because of injury.

IRELAND TIGHTHEAD PROP Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Ireland’s Six Nations opener against England in Dublin due to a recurrence of his calf injury. Connacht’s uncapped Jack Aungier has been called up to the Ireland senior squad for the first time in place of Furlong.