Tom Varndell says he is “excited” to be involved at the start of a new era in English rugby after being named in the England Elite Player squad by new team manager Martin Johnson.

The Leicester Tigers winger gained his fourth cap in the summer’s tour to New Zealand and had his place in the new national squad confirmed alongside seven club colleagues on Tuesday.

“It is an exciting time for me, going with England to New Zealand and then starting the new season with this selection under a new England management,” said Varndell who finished last season as the Guinness Premiership’s top try-scorer.

“It is the start of a fresh era and it is exciting for everyone involved.

“Although the results did not go our way in New Zealand, I learned from the experience of being involved with the squad again and I have come back feeling positive about my rugby and excited about the prospects for England rugby.”

Varndell is joined in the England senior squad by Leicester Tigers team-mates George Chuter, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Lewis Moody, Harry Ellis, Toby Flood and Dan Hipkiss.

“There are a lot of the younger guys from Leicester in the squad, the likes of Jordan, Crofty, Harry and Danny, and then some of the more senior guys. It looks good for the club having a group of younger international players coming through the system like that,” he said.

“I am over the moon to be included. When you are given a place in that squad you know that you have to work hard to try to cement that place.”

Scrum-half Ellis, who has 18 caps, makes his return to senior international company after recovery from injury and said: “I am very pleased to be back involved with the squad, it has been a while. I’m just looking forward to working with all those guys.”