England call-up Red Bull signing to replace injured Alex Mitchell

England have called up Newcastle Red Bulls scrum-half Raffi Quirke as injury cover for Alex Mitchell ahead of Saturday’s final Nations Championship clash against Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

The RFU confirmed on Sunday that Quirke had joined Steve Borthwick’s squad after Mitchell was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained during England’s 73-8 victory over Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

An RFU statement read: “Raffi Quirke has joined the England squad as a replacement for the injured Alex Mitchell ahead of Saturday’s Round 3 Nations Championship fixture against Argentina at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero.”

Mitchell’s latest setback continues a frustrating run of hamstring problems. The British and Irish Lions scrum-half came off the bench against Fiji but lasted only nine minutes before limping off. It is the third hamstring issue he has suffered this season, having already missed this year’s Six Nations through injury.

Speaking after the win, Borthwick admitted Mitchell is unlikely to recover in time for the tour finale.

Nations Championship

Northern Hemisphere

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Ireland

2

2

0

0

10

2

France

2

1

1

0

7

3

Scotland

2

1

1

0

6

4

England

2

1

1

0

5

5

Wales

2

1

1

0

5

6

Italy

2

0

2

0

0

Southern Hemisphere

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

South Africa

2

2

0

0

10

2

New Zealand

2

2

0

0

10

3

Argentina

2

1

1

0

6

4

Japan

2

1

1

0

4

5

Australia

2

0

2

0

3

6

Fiji

2

0

2

0

0

“I don’t know at this stage whether it’s a recurrence of the hamstring injury he’s had a couple of times already this season, nor can I confirm the length at this early stage of how long he’s going to be absent for, but it looks like he won’t be able to be part of next week,” said Borthwick.

Mitchell’s injury left England short of specialist scrum-halves after Jack van Poortvliet had already departed the field. Marcus Smith moved from full-back to scrum-half and impressed as England ran in 11 tries against a Fiji side reduced to 14 men before half-time.

Quirke now has the opportunity to add to his two England caps. The 24-year-old burst onto the international scene in 2021 when he became England’s youngest scrum-half for more than 90 years on his debut.

A week later, he announced himself on the Test stage by scoring the winning try against reigning world champions South Africa at Twickenham.

The Broughton-born half-back recently completed a move to Newcastle Red Bulls from Sale Sharks.

Still only 24, Quirke arrives in Argentina looking to revive his international career after a difficult spell disrupted by injuries.