Matt Dawson will captain England in next Saturday's Six Nations Championship opener against Ireland at Twickenham.

The Northampton scrum-half's promotion was confirmed today when England coach Clive Woodward named a 26-man squad for the championship.

World Cup skipper Martin Johnson has failed to make it due to an Achilles injury that has sidelined him since mid December.

Woodward's squad includes three uncapped players exciting Bath back Iain Balshaw, his club colleague, centre Mike Tindall, and Northampton wing Ben Cohen.

The party also includes three players hoping to re-launch their England careers Bedford scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, Bath hooker Mark Regan and Wasps lock Simon Shaw.

But there is no place for former England captain Phil de Glanville, who has only recently recovered from injury but who Woodward insists will come into contention after the Ireland match.

Johnson is among 11 of England's World Cup squad not included for the Ireland
match due to a combination of fitness and form.

The casualty list, headed by Johnson, also includes Saracens pair Danny Grewcock, Dan Luger, Kyran Bracken, David Rees and Leon Lloyd.

Johnson had hoped to feature in Leicester's Tetley's Bitter Cup match against London Irish tomorrow, but, after training with Tiger's development squad last night, suffered what left the manager Dean Richards termed "a slight reaction."

Woodward said: "Sadly, Martin hasn't made it, and I will obviously be monitoring closely his return to fitness during the next few weeks."

Johnson's British Lions colleague Dawson skippered England on their disastrous southern hemisphere tour in 1998, leading in adversity through some superb individual performances.

"I am delighted to have been chosen as captain, but obviously I wish the circumstances had been different," Dawson said.

"My thoughts, and those of the squad are with Martin. We wish him a swift recovery, and we hope to see him back in contention very soon.

"We've a strong squad, and I am looking forward to doing everything I can to ensure that we produce a good performance against Ireland on February 5."

Woodward offered his congratulations to the newcomers, adding: "They have impressed me in training, and been in excellent form for their clubs this season, and their call up reflects their performances this year.

"It is also good to see Andy Gomarsall, Mark Regan and Simon Shaw back in the squad.

"Andy has performed extremely well in difficult circumstances at Bedford and Mark and Simon appear to be back to the form which made them regulars in the squad three years ago.

"I will be expecting them to push very hard for places in the 22 for the Ireland match, which I will announce next Tuesday."

The World Cup players not included in this England squad are Johnson, Grewcock, de Glanville, Luger, Lloyd, Nick Beal, Graham Rowntree, Richard Cockerill, Victor Ubogu, Martyn Wood and Jeremy Guscott, who announced his retirement from international rugby earlier this season.