England added New Zealand-born Thomas Waldrom and Bath’s Matt Banahan to their squad as injury cover on Sunday ahead of next weekend’s Six Nations rugby opener against Scotland.

Waldrom, a former Hurricanes and Crusaders Super Rugby back-rower, currently plays in England for Leicester and has been called up because of a calf injury to Luke Narraway.

The 28-year-old Waldrom, was summoned late to the World Cup in New Zealand as injury cover but is yet to be capped.

Meanwhile, back Banahan has been summoned because of Henry Trinder’s ankle problem.

Both Waldrom and Banahan were members of the England Saxons side that beat the Irish Wolfhounds 23-17 at Exeter, south-west England, when the national reserve teams met on Saturday.

Gloucester duo Narraway and Trinder will stay with their club this week as England prepare to begin the defence of their Six Nations title away to Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Other England players ruled out of the Scotland match are centre Manu Tuilagi (calf), five-eighth/centre Toby Flood (knee), flanker Tom Wood (foot) and lock Courtney Lawes (knee).

Acting England coach Stuart Lancaster is due to name his captain on Monday, following the post World Cup Test retirement of former skipper Lewis Moody, with the team for the Calcutta Cup clash set to be revealed on Thursday.