Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will miss England training in York this week as he returns to the University of Exeter for a first-year medical exam.
The wing, 21, scored after coming off the bench for his second cap against Scotland at Murrayfield during England’s 30-21 Six Nations defeat on Saturday. However, Feyi-Waboso cannot attend the fallow-week training camp, where England will gather for three days in Yorkshire, as he prioritises his studies.
He started his medical degree at Aston University, when he did not get into Cardiff University, but then restarted his part-time course in Exeter when his old club Wasps went bust and he joined Exeter Chiefs in 2022. It is understood his exam must be done in person.
It means that the Bath wing Will Muir, who played for England A against Portugal in the 91-5 win at Welford Road on Sunday, replaces Feyi-Waboso for the camp this week. Feyi-Waboso will return next week before the next Six Nations match at Twickenham against Ireland on March 9.
Meanwhile, the half backs Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell will continue their rehabilitation from injuries. Smith pulled his calf in the build-up to the tournament and left a pre-Six Nations camp in Girona, Spain, on crutches, but he could be fit to face Ireland.
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Mitchell tweaked knee ligaments in an open training session at Twickenham on February 16, and could return for the final match against France in Lyon on March 16.
The Northampton Saints back-row forward Tom Pearson, another who played for England A on Sunday, is promoted to the main squad in place of Ben Curry, from Sale Sharks. Curry picked up a chest injury in training last week with England, so has been ruled out.
England must beat one of Ireland, who are charging towards completing back-to-back grand slams, or France to improve their recent run in the Six Nations. They have won only two games in each of the past three tournaments and have not finished above third place in the table since they won the Six Nations on points difference in the Covid-affected year of 2020.
