Surprise recall for England duo
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Eddie Jones produced a couple of surprises when he named 25 players for a three-day training camp in central London – beginning Wednesday.
Maro Itoje (Saracens) and Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) joined up with the squad to continue their rehabilitation.
Lock Itoje did not appear for the Red Roses in their 44-8 rout of France at Twickenham this past Sunday, after the Saracens lock suffered medial ligament damage in the epic 32-20 win over Ireland in Round One.
Itoje is likely to miss the showdown with Wales too.
However, Itoje could return to face Italy and then Scotland in the final rounds of the Six Nations.
Itoje’s recall follows a day after England confirmed that prop Mako Vunipola will play no further part in their bid to win a second Six Nations Grand Slam under Eddie Jones.
Vunipola suffered an ankle injury against France.
The 28-year-old – who missed the November Tests with a calf injury – went off early in the second half of the 44-8 rout of France on Saturday and watched the rest of the game with ice strapped to his left ankle.
England training squad:
Forwards: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs: Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
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