Prop Ellis Genge, injured in one foot, was forced to forfeit England’s first match at the Six Nations Tournament on Saturday (3:15 p.m.) in Italy, where Beno Obano takes his place on the substitutes’ bench. The announcement was made by the English Rugby Union Federation (RFU) minutes before the match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

No additional details have been provided regarding the state of health and the nature of the injury of Genge, an experienced Bristol Bears player with 58 caps. Beno Obano, Bath pillar (29 years old), could experience a fourth cap if he comes into play.

England, third in the 2023 World Cup, is coming out of a previous disappointing edition of the Six Nations Tournament, finishing in fourth place. England team to face Italy on Saturday (3:15 p.m.) in Rome:

Steward – Freeman, Slade, Dingwall, Daly – (o) Ford, (m) Mitchell – Underhill, Earl, Roots – Chessum, Itoje – Stuart, George (cap.), MarlerRemplaƧants: Dan, Obano, Cole, Coles, Cunningham-South, Care, F. Smith, Feyi-Waboso.