George Chuter will not play in England's final world cup warm-up, against France this Saturday. The hooker has sprained his right knee and will be replaced in the starting line-up by Mark Regan.

Chuter suffered the injury during a training session last Wednesday. It means Regan will be starting his fifth England match in succession, despite the fact that he had retired from international rugby in 2004.

With the talented Lee Mears also in the squad as cover for Regan, the timing could hardly have been worse for Chuter. Brian Ashton had made it clear that the game in Marseille was a final chance for the players to make a case for inclusion in England's first XV.

Only this morning, feature articles had been filed on the news wires on Chuter's ambitions to use the game to secure a starting berth in the team. Having made his international debut last year, Chuter, who is 30, now faces the prospect of being a non-playing member of the squad in his first-ever World Cup.

Lewis Moody, Peter Richards and Andy Sheridan are also currently on England's current casualty list, suffering with calf, back and illness problems respectively.