Courtney Lawes will miss England’s Six Nations clash with Italy on Sunday as he remains under concussion protocols.
Lawes was also sidelined by the head injury for England’s 20-17 defeat by Scotland in their Six Nations opener last week.
He was concussed playing for Northampton against Ulster on 16 January.
The 32-year-old utility forward is yet to resume full training with Eddie Jones’ squad, ruling him out of the trip to Rome.
“Courtney Lawes is unavailable for selection as he continues working through return-to-play protocols,” an RFU statement said.
Tom Curry will remain England captain in the absence of Lawes, who could be passed fit for Wales’ visit to Twickenham on 26 February.
Uncapped Leicester forward Ollie Chessum has been retained in the reduced 27-man squad that will step up preparations for the Stadio Olimpico showdown.
There is no place for Joe Launchbury, however, as he returns to Wasps to continue his comeback from the knee injury he suffered in April.
The absence of Mark Atkinson means England will either retain their centre duo of Henry Slade and Elliot Daly or opt for Slade alongside Joe Marchant.
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