Dombrandt called to Italy to replace injured Shields

Dombrandt called to Italy to replace injured Shields

Uncapped Harlequins flanker Alex Dombrandt has been called up to the England training squad to replace injured Brad Shields.

Dombrandt earned an England call up and started for England against the Barbarians earlier this year but is yet to earn a full England cap.

Shields returns to England from the training camp in Treviso after the Wasps' flanker picked a foot ligament injury and will undergo assessments to understand the extent of the injury.

The switch is a blow to England's preparation for the Rugby World Cup in Japan with Bath's Sam Underhill and Anthony Watson both undergoing specialised strength and conditioning work off site away from the squad.

Shields' versatility is key to Eddie Jones' squad with the former Hurricane playing both lock and flank for the national side while he also regularly turned out at no.8 for the Hurricanes.


England play Wales (11 August), Wales (17 August), Ireland (24 August) and Italy (6 September) ahead of the Rugby World Cup. 

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