England head coach Stuart Lancaster has selected George Ford ahead of Toby Flood in his England Elite Player squad for the Six Nations tournament in February.
Flood was expected to be left out due to his imminent move to France at the end of the season, which has affected his Six Nations place due to Lancaster preferring players to remain in the country.
Ford, who has been promoted from the Saxons squad, has been joined by Northampton centre Luther Burrell, Exeter winger Jack Nowell and Bath full-back Anthony Watson, who are all included as cover for injured players.
Ford is the only change to the Elite squad.
England Six Nations squad:
Forwards: 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)
BacksChris 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)
Danielle Joynson
