LONDON, March 11 – England wing Paul Sackey has been ruled out of Sunday's Six Nations international against France.
The Wasps flyer did not train Tuesday because of a left calf injury, a Rugby Football Union spokesman said, and was one of 13 players released back to their clubs later in the day.
Sackey, capped 22 times, has been an ever-present in all three of England’s Six Nations matches so far this season where a solitary win over Italy has left them fourth in the table.
He was forced off with the injury during England’s 14-13 loss to Ireland at Dublin’s Croke Park on February 28.
Sackey’s place in the team for the Twickenham encounter is likely to be taken either by Ugo Monye or Mathew Tait.
Scrum-half Danny Care has been retained in the squad despite the widespread criticism he received after collecting a yellow card for a shove on Ireland prop Marcus Horan.
But Danny Cipriani’s hopes of an England recall against France were all but ended when he was released back to Wasps.
The 21-year-old outside-half, has found himself out of favour in the Six Nations with England manager Martin Johnson opting for either Andy Goode or Toby Flood at stand-off.
Cipriani, who has won seven caps in all, hasn’t featured for England since being a replacement in the November loss to New Zealand at Twickenham.
Steffon Armitage, George Chuter, Louis Deacon, Ben Foden, Luke Narraway, Jamie Noon, Olly Morgan, Tim Payne, David Strettle, David Wilson and Olly Barkley, who was only formally added Tuesday as injury cover for London Irish back Shane Geraghty, were the other players released.
Johnson is due to name his side to play France on Wednesday.