"Major blow" - 5 England stars who WON'T be available for the 2024 Six Nations

Let's take a closer look at five major stars who won't be gracing the field during this highly anticipated rugby event, each contributing a unique skill set and influence to their teams in previous seasons.

Get your tickets to the 2024 Six Nations matches at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.

Weekend reports suggest that Arundell is poised to extend his stay in France, dealing a potential blow to England and putting his international career on pause. 

The former London Irish speedster is anticipated to tack on two more years to his current 12-month tenure at Racing 92, effectively making him unavailable for Six Nations selection.

When quizzed about the wisdom of this potential move, ex-England wing Ashton shared his perspective on whether staying in France is a beneficial decision.

“No way. How is that a good thing for a 21-year old player?, said Ashton.

“Henry’s gone from playing on the bench at Irish, Irish going under, gone to a World Cup, gone to Paris where he’s got to learn a new language, playing at a club with a lot of superstars.

“I just can’t see how that is the right thing to be doing right now,” Ashton added, speaking on the BBC’s 

Rugby Union Weekly

 podcast. “There are times in your career to be doing that stuff.

“I needed somebody at that age to like properly mentor, spend a lot of time, put a lot of effort into me.

“You need someone who is willing to put a ridiculous amount of time into kids that age.

“I’d like to know how many players there is that are 20-21 who have left their country and become a success?”

Farrell, the captain of the England rugby team, has opted for a hiatus from international rugby to focus on the mental well-being of himself and his family. Consequently, he will be unavailable for the 2024 Six Nations selection. 

Nevertheless, Farrell will maintain his role as a player for Saracens and continue to lead the club as its captain.

The captain of the England rugby team faced significant challenges throughout the Rugby World Cup. Fans from both England and opposing nations directed intense hostility toward the fly-half in every match he played. 

The situation escalated to the point where Farrell would receive loud boos whenever he was featured on the big screen or when his name was announced.

The situation escalated to the point where Farrell would receive loud boos whenever he was featured on the big screen or when his name was announced.

“It is with typical courage that Owen has made this decision to open up in this manner. Together with all of us at England Rugby, I will do everything I can to ensure that he has the support he requires going forward.”

Farrell has not set a date for his return to the England team. 

Lawes has thrown his hat into the ring for the British & Irish Lions' 2025 tour to Australia, despite calling time on his international rugby career following the recent World Cup.

firmly shut down any speculation about reversing his retirement to bolster England's back-row amid a growing injury crisis in the upcoming Six Nations.

The Northampton Saints legend concluded his England tenure with his 105th cap in a semi-final defeat to South Africa in Paris last month, citing a desire to prioritize family time with his wife and four young children.

Addressing the potential of a third Lions tour on Tuesday, Lawes, who played in all five Tests across New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021, expressed, "If I got another Lions call I would probably do that, yeah, yeah. I would get to complete the set, I have done two and doing Australia, which is one of my favourite places to tour, would be cool."

Despite downplaying his chances for the 2025 Lions squad due to the wealth of back-row talent in Great Britain and Ireland, Lawes reflected on his surprise inclusion in the 2021 tour. He recalled being "pretty surprised" at making the squad, especially considering a lack of preliminary emails about his availability.

Curry is set to sit out the entire Six Nations and is likely to be absent for the remainder of the season as Sale has disclosed the necessity for him to undergo surgery to address a hip injury.

The lingering issue has been a concern for Curry since his active participation in England's recent World Cup, where they secured a third-place finish. A consultation with a specialist confirmed that a comprehensive joint clearance is the only viable solution.

Despite being an automatic choice for England when in optimal health, the 25-year-old flanker will have the operation scheduled for the upcoming week after next.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Tom has been back down to London to have further extensive x-rays under movement with a different consultant and this is the best thing for him in the short term.”

The 34-year-old closed the door on a 13-year career for his country at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which began with his Test debut against Scotland in March 2010.

In total, he has featured in four World Cups, won four Six Nations titles including one Grand Slam, and was a runner-up at the 2019 World Cup.

He started his career on the wing for his country, before featuring at scrum-half for the first time in a 21-20 victory over Australia in Sydney and making the position his own.

He is now the most capped England men's player – a record he achieved after earning his 115th cap against Wales in February 2022.

In the storied history of Rugby's Greatest Championship, exceptional leaders have emerged—warriors of various forms, be they agile half-backs, towering second rows, or fearless flankers.

Our latest quiz invites you to identify those who have captained their nations to Guinness Six Nations glory. It's worth noting that in certain instances, there may be multiple captains from the same year due to factors such as injuries and rotation.

Surnames only will be accepted.