England and France will have new captains for the Guinness Six Nations, with Jamie George and Gregory Alldritt assuming the respective roles for the upcoming tournament.
With Owen Farrell sitting out the championship in order to prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing and Antoine Dupont deciding to focus on the French Sevens side that competes at the Paris Olympic Games later this year, both England and France have confirmed their new skippers.
George, who has previously led the Lions and Saracens, takes the role for the first time, while French head coach Fabien Galthie has preferred 26-year-old Alldritt as captain over fellow back rows Charles Ollivon and Anthony Jelonch, who have both had the armband before and are in the squad.
Alldritt took time off after the World Cup disappointment but returned for his club La Rochelle last month.
England coach Steve Borthwick has named seven uncapped players in the 36-man squad, but their presence is overshadowed by the omission of Kyle Sinckler and Billy Vunipola, two stalwarts of the team for the previous two World Cup cycles.
George has won 85 England caps, plus three for the Lions, and is Borthwick's first choice hooker.
"Last week Steve asked me to be captain for the upcoming Six Nations and I accepted with huge gratitude and enthusiasm," George said.
"I love playing rugby for England. I hope that everyone has seen how much it means to me, I have never shied away from that.
France, who open their Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland on Friday, 2 February, have named six uncapped players in their squad.
Centre Nicolas Depoortere, back row Esteban Abadie, locks Matthias Halagahu and Emmanuel Meafou, out-half Antoine Gibert and scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec could all debut in the Six Nations.
Meafou was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, but has been playing for Toulouse since 2019 and trained with France last year, though he has only now become eligible to play for the national team.
Twenty-two of the squad that competed at the World Cup are among the 34 selected, with scrum-half Dupont not considered as he plays in Sevens World Series events in Vancouver and Los Angeles that overlap with the Six Nations.
Maxime Lucu and Le Garrec are the two specialist number nines in the squad and will vye to start in the absence of Dupont.
England Six Nations squad
Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry Theo Dan, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George (capt), Joe Heyes, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler, Beno Obano, Tom Pearson, Ethan Roots, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill.
Backs: Oscar Beard, Danny Care, Elliot Daly, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Mitchell, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie StewardForwards: Esteban Abadie, Dorian Aldegheri,
France Six Nations squad
Forwards: Gregory Alldritt, Uini Atonio, Cyril Baille, Gaetan Barlot, Paul Boudehent, Francois Cros, Paul Gabrillagues, Matthias Halagahu, Anthony Jelonch, Thomas Laclayat, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Charles Ollivon, Romain Taofifenua, Sebastien Taofifenua, Reda Wardi, Cameron Woki
Backs: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Jonathan Danty, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou, Emilien Gailleton, Antoine Gibert, Matthieu Jalibert, Melvyn Jaminet, Nolann Le Garrec, Matthis Lebel, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos.
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