Owen Farrell cleared to rejoin England squad after 'false positive' Covid test
- Published
Farrell has won 99 Test caps, 93 for England and another six for the British and Irish Lions
Autumn Test: England v Australia |
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Date: Saturday 13 November Kick-off: 17:45 GMT Venue: Twickenham |
Coverage: Live updates on the BBC Sport website and app |
Captain Owen Farrell has been released from isolation to rejoin the England squad after his Covid test was revealed to be a false positive.
The 30-year-old missed Saturday's 69-3 win over Tonga after a test taken on Thursday morning came back positive.
However, the result was reviewed and, after subsequent tests proved negative, he is free to resume normal activities.
England Rugby say the process was "in line with advice given by UK Health Security Agency".
Elsewhere, the possibility of Harlequins' wing Louis Lynagh making his England debut against Australia - the side his father won 72 caps and one Rugby World Cup for - looks to be over.
He has been left out of a 34-strong squad to face the Wallabies next weekend, with specialist number eights Sam Simmonds and Callum Chick among those brought back into camp.
Lynagh, 20, who also qualifies for Italy at international level, pulled out of preparations for the 69-3 win over Tonga on Saturday with a minor injury.
Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke is in contention for a first cap after a knee complaint kept him out of the autumn series opener.
In Farrell's absence, George Furbank, more usually a full-back, started at 10 with Harlequins' Marcus Smith coming off the bench midway though the second half against Tonga.
The possibility of head coach Eddie Jones naming Smith at 10 inside Farrell at inside centre had already been derailed by a minor leg injury that kept Smith out of training for much of the build-up.
That combination could now be likely for England's meeting with Australia.
Their autumn series concludes with a match against South Africa on 20 November - it will be the first time the teams have met since South Africa's win in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
England squad for Australia Test week
Forwards
Jamie Blamire, Callum Chick, Tom Curry, Trevor Davison, Nic Dolly, Alex Dombrandt, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, George Martin, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill
Backs
Mark Atkinson, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, George Furban, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Jonny May, Alex Mitchell, Raffi Quirke, Adam Radwan, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs.