Six Leicester Tigers players have been included in a 29-man squad for an England training camp next week.
Tigers front-rowers Dan Cole and Ellis Genge are joined by clubmates George Ford, Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi and Ben Youngs as England continue their build-up to the Rugby World Cup later this year.
Head coach Eddie Jones includes four uncapped selections – Alex Dombrandt, Lewis Ludlam, Ruaridh McConnochie and Val Rapava Ruskin – for the first of two training get-togethers before the first official Rugby World Cup training camp begins on July 7.
Ludlam (Northampton Saints) and Rapava Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby) are the only players included from teams that reached the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals. Along with those involved in the match against the Barbarians earlier this month, they will be managed to ensure their post-season active rest periods are fulfilled in agreement with Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players Association.
Head coach Jones said: “The first two England training camps are designed to improve individual players’ fundamentals to allow them to compete for a place in the Rugby World Cup squad.”
England play Wales (August 11) and Ireland (August 24) at Twickenham before facing Italy (September 6) in Newcastle as part of the Quilter Internationals, as well as an away fixture against Wales (August) in the build-up to the World Cup in Japan.
England Training Squad
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Val Rapava Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby)
Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Joe Cokansiga (Bath Rugby)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby)
Dan Robson (Wasps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
In for medical treatment: George Kruis (Saracens) and Mako Vunipola (Saracens).
