Ford replaces Flood in England squad

Uncapped Bath fly-half George Ford has replaced Toby Flood in England's elite squad (EPS) ahead of the Six Nations. The dropped Flood, 28, has won 60 caps for his country but is leaving Leicester at the end of the season for an as-yet unspecified French club. Continue reading the main story “Toby Flood has made a lifestyle choice and we respect that” Stuart Lancaster England boss Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: "Given the policy of not selecting players based overseas it039;s important we allow others to progress." Eleven players from outside the EPS are in a 35-man Six Nations training squad. Eight have been promoted from the second-string Saxons squad, including the uncapped quartet of Bath wing/full-back Anthony Watson, Exeter wing/full-back Jack Nowell, Northampton centre Luther Burrell and Leicester lock Ed Slater. The other Saxons called up are Exeter flanker Tom Johnson, Gloucester wing Jonny May, Wasps prop Matt Mullan and Sale prop Henry Thomas, while the trio of Northampton fly-half Stephen Myler, Bath hooker Rob Webber and Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth will also train with the Six Nations squad. They have been called up because Lancaster has eight elite squad players currently unavailable because of injury, including Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi and Northampton prop Alex Corbisiero. "We've got eight injuries in the senior squad, which is quite a significant number, but it creates a great opportunity for some other players," added Lancaster. "Twenty months to the World Cup, 20 games to go, so we see it as the right time."