Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw is to lead England in their opening two Six Nations matches, it was announced on Monday.
The 25-year-old flanker, capped just once — against Argentina in 2009 — replaces Lewis Moody after the former skipper announced his retirement from international rugby following England’s World Cup flop in New Zealand.
England interim coach Stuart Lancaster said Robshaw would lead England in the defending champions’ Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday and in their match against Italy in Rome the following weekend.
Robshaw, who has led Harlequins to the top of the Premiership table, was previously captain of England’s reserve Saxons side, where he worked alongside Lancaster.
“It’s a huge honour and a very proud day — hopefully one that will live in my memory for a long time to come. Thanks to everyone who has helped me, especially Quins,” said Robshaw in a Rugby Football Union statement.
“There’s lots of other leaders in the group and they have been great since we met up.
“It’s not about myself because there are six or seven guys around me who all have a massive role to play, whether that’s bossing scrums, line-outs, attack, defence…
“(Coaches) Stuart (Lancaster), Graham (Rowntree) and Andy (Farrell) have given us the game plan and it’s up to us to get it across to the other players to drive the standards and the squad forward in the right way.”
Lancaster added: “We have a strong leadership group and I have been very impressed with the way they have all stepped up so far.
“Chris is a key member of that group and has shown with Harlequins and when I have worked with him in the Saxons that he can lead a team tactically and passionately.
“I am delighted that he has got this chance at the highest level and I know it will be a very proud moment for him, his club, family and friends when he leads England out at Murrayfield on Saturday.”
Injured flanker Tom Wood was another potential captaincy candidate but he has been ruled out of the Scotland match with a foot problem.
Robshaw, long touted as a potential Test skipper, is one of the least experienced players ever to captain England, although they have previously been led by four uncapped players, including scrum-half Nigel Melville on his debut against Australia at Twickenham in 1984 at the age of 23.
The Harlequins captain was named Premiership Player of the Year three years ago and then won his sole cap in a defeat by Argentina.
Robshaw also played in a loss against the Barbarians two weeks earlier but has not featured for his country since the second Test against the Pumas in 2009.
Lancaster, appointed on a caretaker basis for the Six Nations following former manager Martin Johnson’s resignation after the World Cup, is due to name his team to play Scotland on Thursday.
