Lots of fresh faces, and returns for familiar ones, too.
Eddie Jones has included 10 uncapped players in a 36-man England squad, in preparation for this summer’s tour to Australia and a home tilt against the Barbarians. Owen Farrell is back in the mix after missing out on the Six Nations.
Farrell, Jack Willis, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga are all back in the training squad following injury. Elsewhere there are first-time involvements for London Irish duo Henry Arundell and Will Joseph, along with Leicester Tigers’ Jack van Poortvliet. Mako Vunipola is also included.
“We’re going to use this camp as an opportunity to prepare a base game for the Barbarians fixture and for a really important Australia tour,” Eddie Jones commented. “We’ll focus on how we want to play, how we want to be as a team off the field and continue to develop the squad cohesiveness and behaviours.
“It is also 16 months to the World Cup and every minute counts. We want a hard-working and enjoyable environment for the players and make sure we are all on the same page. We are allowed a squad of 36 players, so it has been a balancing act.
“We want to take a look at some younger players and prepare a base camp for the Barbarians game, particularly as we will be without the Premiership finalists, and also give some senior players a rest as we get to a crucial part of the season. These players will still be in contention for the Australia tour.”
Big names sit this one out
England will face the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 19 before they get back together to travel to Australia for a three-Test tour in July.
The likes of Ben Youngs, Henry Slade, Max Malins, Kyle Sinckler, Elliot Daly and Jamie George all miss out on the squad, but will be kept busy with playoff matches, and prep.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Forwards
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped), Jamie Blamire, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap), Alex Dombrandt, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped), Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped), Bevan Rodd, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill, Mako Vunipola, Jack Willis.
Backs
Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped), Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped), Joe Cokanasiga, Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped), George Furbank, Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped), Louis Lynagh (Harlequins, uncapped), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap), Harry Randall, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped), Anthony Watson
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