"Blacklisted" - The reason why Kyle Sinckler and Billy Vunipola were left out by England

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The former skipper has opted out of this year's championship, citing a focus on mental well-being for himself and his family.

The squad shake-up includes the return of centre Henry Slade and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, both of whom missed the Rugby World Cup.

Adding a dash of excitement, uncapped Exeter Chiefs wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, hailing from Cardiff, joins seven other uncapped players in the squad – Chandler Cunningham-South, Ethan Roots, Oscar Beard, Fraser Dingwall, Tom Roebuck, and Fin Smith.

In a strategic move, two notable omissions from the squad are number eight Billy Vunipola and prop Kyle Sinckler. Rumor has it that Head Coach Borthwick has shifted focus from two aging stars, who have disclosed their plans for the upcoming season.

MailOnline report that the 30-year-old is in the final stages of agreeing a deal with the Top 14 club, after the prop flew to Toulon last week to undergo a medical. 

Sinckler joined Bristol Bears in July 2020. The tighthead prop represented the Lions for the second successive tour after being called up to Warren Gatland’s squad for the 2021 tour of South Africa.

The powerhouse prop, who joined from Harlequins, has 68 caps for England and represented his country at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Sinckler featured in all three tests on the Lions’ tour to New Zealand in 2017 and is one of World Rugby’s leading stars.

Speculations are rife as reports indicate that Billy Vunipola is engaged in discussions with Suntory Sungoliath regarding a potential move to Japan. The formidable No. 8 is contemplating whether to extend his stay with Saracens or pursue a lucrative opportunity in the Far East.

This isn't the first time the 31-year-old has been associated with the Tokyo-based team in Japan's rapidly growing League One. Previously, Vunipola opted to remain with the Premiership champions, signing a contract extension.

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

arrell, the captain of the England rugby team, has opted for a hiatus from international rugby to focus on the mental well-being of himself and his family. Consequently, he will be unavailable for the 2024 Six Nations selection. 

Nevertheless, Farrell will maintain his role as a player for Saracens and continue to lead the club as its captain.

The captain of the England rugby team faced significant challenges throughout the Rugby World Cup. Fans from both England and opposing nations directed intense hostility toward the fly-half in every match he played. 

The situation escalated to the point where Farrell would receive loud boos whenever he was featured on the big screen or when his name was announced.

The situation escalated to the point where Farrell would receive loud boos whenever he was featured on the big screen or when his name was announced.

“It is with typical courage that Owen has made this decision to open up in this manner. Together with all of us at England Rugby, I will do everything I can to ensure that he has the support he requires going forward.”

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

The 32-year-old prop has declared an end to his international career.

The seasoned player made a formidable impact, boasting an impressive record of 71 appearances for England and earning 9 caps with the British and Irish Lions.

He wrote on Instagram: "It’s been an honour to have represented my country but all good things must come to an end. The time has come to step away now. There have been lots of highs and lows. 

"Would love to thank everyone who have helped me along the way 🙏🏾

"To my wife @alex_vunipola thank you for taking care of our family and all your support. Words don’t do it justice. 

"To my parents I’m eternally grateful for all you have sacrificed for me to be here. Malo aupito and Ofa atu 

"God is good"

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

awes has thrown his hat into the ring for the British & Irish Lions' 2025 tour to Australia, despite calling time on his international rugby career following the recent World Cup.

firmly shut down any speculation about reversing his retirement to bolster England's back-row amid a growing injury crisis in the upcoming Six Nations.

The Northampton Saints legend concluded his England tenure with his 105th cap in a semi-final defeat to South Africa in Paris last month, citing a desire to prioritize family time with his wife and four young children.

Addressing the potential of a third Lions tour on Tuesday, Lawes, who played in all five Tests across New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021, expressed, "If I got another Lions call I would probably do that, yeah, yeah. I would get to complete the set, I have done two and doing Australia, which is one of my favourite places to tour, would be cool."

Despite downplaying his chances for the 2025 Lions squad due to the wealth of back-row talent in Great Britain and Ireland, Lawes reflected on his surprise inclusion in the 2021 tour. He recalled being "pretty surprised" at making the

Curry is set to sit out the entire Six Nations and is likely to be absent for the remainder of the season as Sale has disclosed the necessity for him to undergo surgery to address a hip injury.

The lingering issue has been a concern for Curry since his active participation in England's recent World Cup, where they secured a third-place finish. A consultation with a specialist confirmed that a comprehensive joint clearance is the only viable solution.

Despite being an automatic choice for England when in optimal health, the 25-year-old flanker will have the operation scheduled for the upcoming week after next.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Tom has been back down to London to have further extensive x-rays under movement with a different consultant and this is the best thing for him in the short term.”

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

Unavailable due to playing overseas.

Despite downplaying his chances for the 2025 Lions squad due to the wealth of back-row talent in Great Britain and Ireland, Lawes reflected on his surprise inclusion in the 2021 tour. He recalled being "pretty surprised" at making the squad, especially considering a lack of preliminary emails about his availability.

In the storied history of Rugby's Greatest Championship, exceptional leaders have emerged—warriors of various forms, be they agile half-backs, towering second rows, or fearless flankers.

Our latest quiz invites you to identify those who have captained their nations to Guinness Six Nations glory. It's worth noting that in certain instances, there may be multiple captains from the same year due to factors such as injuries and rotation.

Surnames only will be accepted.