WROUGHTON-born prop forward Tim Payne has been dropped from the England squad for Saturday's RBS Six Nations clash with pre-tournament favourites France.
Wasps' Payne, who won his sixth cap in the 23-19 win over Italy in Rome last Sunday, will make way for the returning Andrew Sheridan, who reclaims his place in the front row.
The 28-year-old loose head has not even been named among the replacements for the trip to Paris, with Bath's Matt Stevens set to sit on the bench.
The news will come as a major blow to Payne, who was one of England's better performers at the Stadio Flaminio.
His international career has been a stop-start affair to date, with injury interrupting his progress and ruling him out of last year's World Cup.
Payne will be hoping for a recall when head coach Brian Ashton names his team for the clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on March 8.
He will now be available for Wasps' Guinness Premiership fixture with Bristol.
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