England rugby squad hit by ANOTHER Covid positive as Ellis Genge joins Joe Marler

Covid chaos hit England’s Test match plans again, with Ellis Genge infected with the virus.

The prop, 26, tested positive after a PCR test on Thursday and was put in 10-day isolation. He misses Saturday’s Australia game and South Africa next week.

No other positives were found among Eddie Jones’s squad, but they face a nervous wait for more PCR test results on Saturday morning. 

He joins Joe Marler (pictured) in self-isolation and the pair will both miss the Australia game

On Monday, loosehead prop Joe Marler tested positive, so Sale’s Bevan Rodd — not in the squad until Wednesday — makes his debut at Twickenham. Newcastle’s Trevor Davison covers for him on the bench.

Jones said: ‘Every day is an adventure and we are on a bit of a rollercoaster at the moment. Covid keeps coming. It’s a great opportunity for a young guy like Bevan Rodd to play his first Test at Twickenham against one of our arch-enemies Australia.

‘So while we are disappointed for Ellis because he is such an important part of our team, it’s a great opportunity for the team to step up and for those two young players to step up. 

‘It’s a fact of life at the moment, you just have to watch the news in the morning and see the number of cases in the UK. It is out there. We are doing everything we can to safeguard the team against it and to try and use some common sense.

‘Since Covid started we have had two positive cases in nearly two years so I think our strike rate is pretty good.’

This is the second consecutive week in which England’s preparations have been disrupted. Owen Farrell was a last-minute removal from the team to play Tonga after testing positive, missing the game despite his result being later proven to be false. 

Eddie Jones’ preparations for the match have been disrupted by various positive test results

The uncapped Bevan Rodd (right) will start for England in Genge’s Covid-enforced absence

On Genge’s absence from the game against Australia, Jones said: ‘Ellis is enormously disappointed. He is vice-captain of this team and loves playing against Australia and loves the challenge of playing at Twickenham.

‘He will rebound. It would be an interesting isolation if he and Marler were together, fortunately they are not, because we might end up with only one coming out.

‘He is not sick at all, which is obviously the frustrating thing for him.

‘Everyone has mixed emotions. I was watching the players. Some are disappointed for Ellis, others are angry and others just want to get on with it.’

Farrell endured his own pain when missing out last week due to Covid. Reinstated for his 100th international today, the captain said: ‘It is very disappointing as an individual, having to isolate and be on your own. You go through different emotions.

‘I was buzzing to play all week, then to not have the chance was disappointing. We are looking forward to showing that it’s not touching us in terms of our mentality.’