London Irish back-row Steffon Armitage, the brother of Test full-back Delon, was called up Monday into England's squad for the Six Nations after Lewis Moody was ruled out with a broken ankle.
England manager Martin Johnson said of the uncapped loose forward: "Steffon has been in very good form for London Irish this season and deserves his opportunity."
Steffon Armitage, 23, who saw his older brother make his England debut against the Pacific Islanders in November, has been in impressive form for the Exiles so far this season.
But it looked as if he would miss out on an England call for the Six Nations until Leicester flanker Moody broke his ankle on Thursday - an injury that threatens to rule the 30-year-old out for up to three weeks.
That led to Armitage's promotion from England's second tier Saxons.
Johnson has also selected Bath captain Michael Lipman to England's elite squad training camp in Portugal.
Lipman was due to fly out Monday evening and before being assessed by England's medical staff after suffering a head injury during Sunday's European Cup draw with Toulouse.
Meanwhile the Saxons trio of Ben Kay, Matt Banahan and Joe Worsley have joined the squad to provide back-up ahead of the Six Nations opener against Italy on February 7.
In the backs, wing Ugo Monye has not travelled to Portugal in order to undergo treatment on a sore back.
Johnson is set to find out later Monday if veteran prop Julian White will be cited when the deadline for such action against the forward expires.
The 35-year-old Leicester front-row was accused by Ospreys players and management of eye-gouging after Saturday's match at the Liberty Stadium, and the deadline for calling him to face disciplinary chiefs will pass later Monday.
White was only summoned to the squad last week when Matt Stevens was expelled after announcing he'd tested positive for drugs.
Revised England 32-man Elite Player Squad for the Six Nations Championship after Steffon Armitage replaced Lewis Moody on Monday:
Backs
Delon Armitage (London Irish), Danny Care (Harlequins), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Mark Cueto (Sale), Harry Ellis (Leicester), Toby Flood (Leicester), Ben Foden (Northampton), Riki Flutey (Wasps), Shane Geraghty (London Irish), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Olly Morgan (Gloucester), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Paul Sackey (Wasps), Mathew Tait (Sale), Mike Tindall (Gloucester)
Forwards
Steffon Armitage (London Irish), Steve Borthwick (Saracens), George Chuter (Leicester), Tom Croft (Leicester), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Lee Mears (Bath), Luke Narraway (Gloucester), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Tim Payne (Wasps), Tom Rees (Wasps), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale), Julian White (Leicester), Phil Vickery (Wasps)
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
