Ashton back in England squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England head coach Eddie Jones has included Chris Ashton in the 44-man training squad.
Ashton spent a season in Toulon after leaving Saracens.
However, the 31-year-old returned to England is eligible to play for his country and is named in a pre-season training camp.
Ashton, who has scored 19 tries in 39 Tests for England, last played international rugby in 2014.
“Chris is an exceptional player, I think we have seen with his form at Saracens, then at Toulon he has played exceedingly well,” said Jones.
“He’s come back to England because he wants to play for England so he has got the right desire, the right attitude so it will be good to work with him,”
Jones named former Stormers loose forward Michael Rhodes in the squad. The 30-year-old joined Saracens in 2015 and is could earn an England cap in November.
Three players from England’s World Rugby U20 Championship squad are also named with Jones looking for the stars of the future.
Harlequins wing Gabriel Ibitoye, Leicester Tigers back Jordan Olowofela and Saracens lock Joel Kpoku are all included, having featured for the U20s in the summer.
“It is an opportunity for them to show us what they have got,” said Jones. “We have identified those guys who can potentially play for England in the future so this is a great opportunity for them.”
Jones added of the camp: “This camp is all about individual preparation, it’s about looking to see how we can help each of the players improve, how we can help with their selection for the national team, because we have 44 players coming in plus another 15 who are strongly in contention for the Internationals in November,”
England will play four matches in the upcoming Internationals against South Africa (November 3), New Zealand (November 10), Japan (November 17) and Australia (November 24).
England training squad:
Backs: Chris Ashton, Mike Brown, Danny Cipriani, Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Nathan Earle, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Piers Francis, Gabriel Ibitoye, Alex Lozowski, Joe Marchant, Jonny May, Jordan Olowofela, Dan Robson, Henry Slade, Ben Spencer, Ben Te’o, Ben Youngs
Forwards: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Jamie George , Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Alec Hepburn, Paul Hill, Nathan Hughes, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Joel Kpoku, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Michael Rhodes, Chris Robshaw, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Will Spencer, Elliott Stooke, Sam Underhill, Mako Vunipola , Harry Williams, Mark Wilson
📋SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT
Eddie Jones has named a 44-man training squad ahead of the new season.
Find out more: ➡️ https://t.co/EraoaYbJJF pic.twitter.com/jiomjbbgPi
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) August 2, 2018
