Rugby-England release Smith back to Quins to get game time

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Wales v England - Captain's Runs - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - February 24, 2023 England's Marcus Smith during the captains run Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

LONDON (Reuters) - Marcus Smith has been released from England's training squad this week to get game time with Harlequins but faces a battle to make the squad to face France in two weeks after George Ford was included in a trimmed 26-man group announced on Tuesday.

Smith came on in the last minute of Saturday's victory over Wales, after another appearance off the bench against Italy as coach Steve Borthwick dispensed with the twin-playmaker role and installed captain Owen Farrell as his flyhalf.