Hepburn gets England call-up

By Mark Stevens
26/1/21

Exeter Chiefs prop Alec Hepburn has today been called into England's shadow squad ahead of the upcoming Guinness Six Nations Championship.

With Joe Marler withdrawing from the main squad earlier this week, head coach Eddie Jones has been keen to ensure he has enough options at loosehead ahead of the campaign, which begins against Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, February 6 (4.45pm KO).

Marler's withdrawal, coupled with an injury to Make Vunipola, means Jones has called up Wasps prop Tom West to fill the void and he will compete for a spot in the match-day 23 alongside Leicester's Ellis Genge and Bath's Beno Obano.

Hepburn, who has previously won six Test caps for England, will offer additional back-up and will be part of the same testing protocols as the tournament squad, which already includes Exeter team-mates Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill, Henry Slade and Harry Williams.

Elsewhere, Jones has also lost Wasps lock Joe Launchbury (leg) and Bath flanker Sam Underhill (hip) from his original selection. Bath’s Charlie Ewels and Wasps’ Jack Willis have been called into the main squad.

Northampton Saints duo Lewis Ludlam and David Ribbans have joined Hepburn in the shadow squad