England Head Coach Eddie Jones has announced his training squad to take part in a pre-season camp at the Lensbury Hotel later this week.
37 players will attend the three-day camp in Teddington, which begins on Saturday 5 August. Dan Cole, Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Jack Nowell, Kyle Sinckler as well as Anthony Watson will spend one day in camp while the other British & Irish Lions players have opted to remain on their summer break.
Nine players who made their debuts on England’s successful tour of Argentina in June are called up, including Tom Curry, Piers Francis, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Lozowski, Jack Maunder, Denny Solomona, Sam Underhill, Harry Williams and Mark Wilson.
Manu Tuilagi will join up with the England squad having last played for his country during the 2016 RBS 6 Nations. 18-year-old Marcus Smith (Harlequins) has also been called up having been involved in some sessions at England’s training camp in Brighton at the end of last season, as well as playing in England U20s 2017 Six Nations Grand Slam winning squad. Hooker Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby) is also named in the training squad.
The camp will involve medical check-ups, functional and rugby training, planning meetings and individual reviews as England begin their preparations for the upcoming Old Mutual Wealth Series.
The seven players involved with the Lions tour who have opted to attend the camp will not train and will only take part in medical check-ups, as well as coach and strength & conditioning reviews.
The home Old Mutual Wealth Series played in November will involve three Tests against Argentina, who England beat 2-0 in June; Australia, who have lost on the previous four occasions to England; and Samoa who last played England in 2014.
Eddie Jones said: “We are at an incredibly important stage with two years to go to the Rugby World Cup in Japan and there is still a big step to make if we want to be the number one team in the world. We are going to have to be meticulous in a preparation in everything we do as we build towards Tokyo and that is why this camp this vital ahead of this season.
“The players, coaches and staff will use these three days to reconnect and ensure we are all clear on what our priorities and expectations are ahead of the Premiership season as well as the upcoming Old Mutual Wealth Series.”
Following two camps in August and September (Oxford), a final England squad will be announced on the 26 October to play in the Old Mutual Wealth Series. England will travel to Portugal for a week’s training camp at the end of October before final preparations begin at Pennyhill Park ahead of the first Test versus Argentina (11 November).
