New Leicester Tigers signing Will Spencer has been named in England’s 44-man pre-season training squad.
Spencer is one of five Tigers players to be named in the squad, which will convene at the Lensbury Hotel in Teddington from Saturday to Monday.
The second rower, who moved to Welford Road from Worcester Warriors this summer, is joined in the training squad by backs George Ford, Jonny May, Jordan Olowofela and Ben Youngs.
England today said the camp will give their coaches a chance to look at a number of new or young players including Olowofela, who made his Tigers debut in last season’s Anglo-Welsh Cup campaign, Gabriel Ibitoye, Joel Kpoku and Michael Rhodes.
A number of players rested for the tour to South Africa were not considered for this camp but will be watched closely in the club season, England said.
Head coach Eddie Jones said: “This is a pre-season camp so a lot of our players, particularly the ones who went on the South African tour, have just started training with their clubs so it’s just a chance to get a group of players together to have a chat about the season ahead and look at the important areas in developing the team.
"With just over 12 months until the Rugby World Cup, it is an important time.
"We haven’t selected everyone. There are a number of players we rested from the tour that we have allowed to continue their pre-season with their clubs.
Jones added: “We have one day of training at this camp, a September camp, then a week before the South Africa game so every minute counts. We want to make sure we use every minute as productively as we can so that is the target."
England’s next training camp will be Sunday, September 23 until Wednesday, September 25 in Bristol before joining up on October 24 to prepare for the internationals in November.
England will play four matches in the upcoming Quilter Internationals against South Africa (November 3), New Zealand (November 10), Japan (November 17) and Australia (November 24). Kick off for all games will be 3pm live on Sky Sports HD.
England squad
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Cipriani (Gloucester Rugby), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Spencer (Saracens), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Northampton Saints), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joel Kpoku (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors), Will Spencer (Leicester Tigers), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Not considered for selection due to injury/ fitness/other: Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby) George Kruis (Saracens), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens).
