England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, has named seven uncapped players in a 19-man preliminary training squad before the tour of Japan and New Zealand this summer. Exeter’s Greg Fisilau and Rus Tuima and the Bath-bound flanker Guy Pepper are among the new faces included, along with the Harlequins pair Fin Baxter and Luke Northmore.
There are also opportunities for the Bristol hooker Gabriel Oghre and Gloucester’s fly-half Charlie Atkinson at next week’s four-day training camp in Bagshot, Surrey. The players have been chosen from the six teams not involved in this season’s Premiership playoffs, with the final selection to be announced on 10 June.
Forwards F Baxter (Harlequins), C Cunningham-South (Harlequins), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), G Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), J Heyes (Leicester Tigers), G Martin (Leicester Tigers), G Oghre (Bristol Bears), G Pepper (Newcastle), E Roots (Exeter Chiefs), R Tuima (Exeter Chiefs).
Backs C Atkinson (Gloucester), I Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), M Malins (Bristol Bears), L Northmore (Harlequins), H Randall (Bristol Bears), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), M Smith (Harlequins), F Steward (Leicester Tigers), J Van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).
In the meantime, however, there is a chance for a number of players to put down an early marker. Jack van Poortvliet, the Leicester scrum-half, is back involved for the first time since damaging an ankle in the World Cup warm-up game against Wales last August and Bristol’s Harry Randall has also been picked.
Both Ellis Genge and Ollie Chessum have already been ruled out of this year’s tour through injury, but the experienced Joe Marler and Dan Cole are both set to be called up for the following camp, starting on 4 June.
In the meantime Borthwick will be hoping for no further casualties in next weekend’s Premiership semi-finals involving Northampton, Saracens, Bath and Sale.
