Geordan Murphy says he was delighted for the Leicester Tigers players named in the provisional 45-man elite player squad (EPS) for England's pre-season training camp.
Club captain Tom Youngs was named in the squad alongside his Tigers teammates Dan Cole, Will Evans, Ellis Genge, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Williams and Ben Youngs.
The squad will meet from August 6-8 for training, planning meetings and individual reviews in preparation for the Old Mutual Wealth Series against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia later this year. England will announce a final 45-man EPS on September 30.
And Tigers coach Murphy said: “I am delighted for Tom that he is back in there with a shot. Everyone in Leicester appreciates what we have got in Tom Youngs, and that’s just a diamond of a guy.
“It was tough on him last season that he was left out of the England set-up but certainly he would be first name on my teamsheet.
“He was injured at the back part of last season so he didn’t have a shot to get back into the squad but now he is coming back injury-free, hungry and we can’t wait to see him in a Tigers shirt first and foremost.”
Murphy added: “It’s fantastic for Will Evans and the others. He is a quality young man. He works very hard. It’s easy to forget how young he is. He was one of the stand-out performers at the World Rugby Under-20s Championship and has been rewarded with this news.
“Eillis Genge has made a huge impression with us and went on the tour to Australia. Mike Williams was disappointed with the way his season finished last year through injury. We are hoping he can add some steel to our squad for the coming season. The future is bright for them as well.”
Click here for the full squad.
Club captain Tom Youngs was named in the squad alongside his Tigers teammates Dan Cole, Will Evans, Ellis Genge, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Williams and Ben Youngs.
The squad will meet from August 6-8 for training, planning meetings and individual reviews in preparation for the Old Mutual Wealth Series against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia later this year. England will announce a final 45-man EPS on September 30.
And Tigers coach Murphy said: “I am delighted for Tom that he is back in there with a shot. Everyone in Leicester appreciates what we have got in Tom Youngs, and that’s just a diamond of a guy.
“It was tough on him last season that he was left out of the England set-up but certainly he would be first name on my teamsheet.
“He was injured at the back part of last season so he didn’t have a shot to get back into the squad but now he is coming back injury-free, hungry and we can’t wait to see him in a Tigers shirt first and foremost.”
Murphy added: “It’s fantastic for Will Evans and the others. He is a quality young man. He works very hard. It’s easy to forget how young he is. He was one of the stand-out performers at the World Rugby Under-20s Championship and has been rewarded with this news.
“Eillis Genge has made a huge impression with us and went on the tour to Australia. Mike Williams was disappointed with the way his season finished last year through injury. We are hoping he can add some steel to our squad for the coming season. The future is bright for them as well.”
Click here for the full squad.
