Thursday 30 January 2020 12:30, UK
England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has returned home from their training camp in Portugal for personal reasons, ahead of the Six Nations opener in France on Sunday.
Cowan-Dickie is now a doubt for the encounter with France, according to defence coach John Mitchell.
Saracens' Jack Singleton is on standby to replace Cowan-Dickie, should the 26-year-old have to miss the game in Paris.
Mitchell said: "Luke's gone back home for family reasons.
"We obviously want to respect that for him, but we've got plans in place should things lead to him not being able to return to Paris. Jack Singleton is on standby.
"At the end of the day, family comes first. We need to make sure Luke's happy and deals with what he has to deal with."
The Exeter Chiefs front-row, who was a part of the England squad that reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, has scored five tries in 20 international caps.
Wasps captain Joe Launchbury has also been ruled out of the opener against France with a knee injury.
Cowan-Dickie's potential absence against France could mean a first England appearance for Bath hooker Tom Dunn.
The 27-year-old has been on the fringes of Eddie Jones' team since 2017, but is yet to make his international debut.
Asked if he thinks he is ready, Dunn said: "Yeah I do. I have matured a lot in the last 18 months as a player and a person and that has put me in a good place now to take my opportunity if it comes.
"I'm 27 now so I'm on the older side of things for making a debut. The next couple of days is about getting things right and getting the basics done."
Dunn, who is physically smaller than many of his England team-mates, has worked his way up the leagues in club rugby, having played at the likes of Chippenham, Rotherham and London Scottish.
"A 'good big' beats a 'good small' in any sport but I think if your intent is there then that's half the battle," Dunn said.
"As long as I know that is on the front foot then that is half the battle.
"I have covered all aspects in rugby and that definitely helps because you never know what you are going to face at the weekend."
