Saints stars Foden and Dickson released by England

But Tom Wood, Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley have been retained ahead of the Red Rose’s Six Nations clash with Ireland on Sunday.

Foden and Dickson were omitted from the squad for the game against Scotland last weekend, with England winning 38-18.

Instead, the pair played for Saints, Foden captaining the side as they went down to a 28-19 LV= Cup defeat at Exeter.

And they will now be available again when their club take on Gloucester in the Premiership at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

Wood, who started for England against the Scots, is likely to line up at No.8 in Ireland, while Hartley and Lawes could again be on the bench.