Joe Marler tests positive for Covid

England prop Joe Marler has tested positive for COVID and has withdrawn from the England squad for this week’s training camp in Brighton.
 
After returning a positive lateral flow test on Tuesday morning, he immediately went into isolation. A subsequent PCR test taken that morning confirmed the result.
 
All of the other England players and staff have undergone daily lateral flow testing – all of which returned negative results.

On Friday, Marler was scrumming against Castres captain Gaeton Barlot who tested positive soon after the match.

The squad will train in Brighton until Friday as they begin their as they prepare for their opening game against Scotland in Edinburgh (Saturday 5 February).