England star set to miss New Zealand tour following suspension

Bath secondrow Charlie Ewels will miss the remainder of England’s tour matches against New Zealand following his red card against Japan.

Receiving a two match ban for clean-out attempt on Japan’s Michael Leitch, Ewels has been replaced in Steve Borthwick’s squad by Saracen’s utility forward Nick Isiekwe.

Ewels who was only on the pitch for little over four minutes saw his yellow card upgraded to a red card by the bunker in what was his first test back since receiving a red card against Ireland in the 2022 Six Nations.

His hit on Leitch was adjudged to have been reckless as he took out the backrow’s legs from the side.

The incident left the match officials with little option but to send Ewels from the field of play with the commentary team immediately remarking that the player could be facing a ban.

Despite being a man down, England would close out their impressive showing with a late try to backrow Sam Underhill to close out a 52 – 17 win.

For Ewels the suspension will be a tough pill to swallow having rebuilt his career following a serious knee injury. He would go on to be a standout performer for Bath in their run to the Premiership final against Northampton this season earning his recall to the national set up.

For England his replacement Isiekwe made his international debut in 2017 as a replacement for Ewels and has earned eleven caps to date. The Saracen’s forward is renowned for his ability at the line-out and physicality in defence and will be a like-for-like replacement for Borthwick’s squad.