"Requested release" - Joe Marler asks out from latest England squad

Eddie Jones has retained Ellis Genge, the starting England prop in rounds one and two of the Six Nations, and the unused Bevan Rodd in his 25-man squad for a training camp gathering in London.

Marler, who has only played 31 minutes in the opening two rounds, wants game time according to The Times.

He is fully expected to return to the squad on Sunday ahead of England's clash with Wales at Twickenham on February 26th.

Other players who weren’t officially called back for full training this week were forwards Jamie Blamire, Joe Heyes, Nick Isiekwe, Courtney Lawes, and Sam Simmonds, and backs Mark Atkinson, George Furbank, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Louis Lynagh, Raffi Quirke and Adam Radwan.

ENGLAND SQUAD
FORWARDS (14)
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 38 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 6 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 63 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 53 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 69 caps)
Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 17 caps) 

BACKS (11)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 54 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 12 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 114 caps)

Marler said: "The most of our demise in Japan in 2019. He was called 'The beast' for good reason."

Marler said: "Best is hard as nails and a great thrower at the line plus great in the loose. He was pretty underrated in my opinion."

DID YOU KNOW? Best followed his elder brother Simon into rugby, playing alongside him for both province and country.

MARLER SAID: "I played against him when he was at Newcastle and he basically Would knock **ing s**t outta ya for 80 minutes. It was like play against a prop with the fitness levels of a flanker."