England reveal 38-man squad with update on injured players
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England’s second Rugby World Cup preparation camp in Brighton sees Steve Borthwick name an increased 38-player training squad.
The squad, which does not include players from Premiership finalists Sale Sharks and Saracens, gathered on the South Coast on Monday, June 19 as England continue their preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France which starts in early-September.
“After an excellent first week’s training, we are very much looking forward to being in Brighton,” said Borthwick.
“We’re pleased to welcome players from Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers who can now start to integrate themselves into the group, and we look forward to players from Sale Sharks and Saracens joining us in a fortnight.
“The first phase of our preparation continues to focus on ensuring the players are physically equipped for what we need to do in a World Cup campaign. That means the training will be tough and purposeful. The players are rising to the challenge.
“We’ll work hard again this week, and we’ll enjoy some time together off the field too – which is also an important part of our preparation.”
Ollie Lawrence (Bath) and Jack Walker (Harlequins) re-join the squad for treatment having picked up knee and calf injuries respectively whilst training at the England Rugby Performance Centre last week.
Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) remain in camp to continue their rehabilitation from injury.
England’s warm-up series begins against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, August 5, with a return fixture at Twickenham Stadium scheduled a week later on Saturday, August 12.
England then travel to Dublin to face Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, August 19, before returning to Twickenham Stadium to play Fiji on Saturday, August 26.
Steve Borthwick announces his 33-player Rugby World Cup squad on Monday, August 7.
England 38-player training squad:
Forwards: Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Ted Hill (Bath Rugby), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Zach Mercer (Montpellier Hérault Rugby), Beno Obano (Bath Rugby), Tom Pearson (London Irish), Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby), David Ribbans (Northampton Saints), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby).
Backs: Henry Arundell (London Irish), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), Will Joseph (London Irish), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
