Eddie Jones has called up nineuncapped players for England’s 2020 Six Nations squad.
As England start their next cycle towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Jones has left out nine of the 31-man squad named for their journey to the 2019 final.
Jones promised to regenerate the squad after they fell in the World Cup final to the Springboks and he has used the opportunity to blood plenty of fresh faces. The 34-man squad includes uncapped trio Tom Dunn, Ben Earl and Ollie Thorley who have been included in England squads in the past but are yet to win their first Test cap, while centre Fraser Dingwall, fullback George Furbank, second-row Alex Moon, tight-head Will Stuart and fly-half Jacob Umaga earn their first inclusion.
Billy Vunipola broke his arm for Saracens on Sunday and misses out while Joe Cokanasiga, Henry Slade, Dan Cole, Jack Singleton, Mark Wilson, Piers Francis and Ruaridh McConnochie are also excluded either through injury or form. Exeter’s Jack Nowell is understood to be having ankle surgery.
Six Nations squad announcements:
– Ireland: Sexton named captain as Farrell drops Kearney
– Wales: Rees-Zammit handed call-up after electric Premiership form
– Scotland: Hogg named captain, Townsend calls up six uncapped players
– France: All change for Les Bleus with 19 uncapped players
– Italy: Scarbi earns first Azzurri call-up for six years
Jones has also included Northampton’s Alex Mitchell and Newcastle Falcons’ Josh Hodge as apprentice players.
“It is always about winning the next game so we have picked the best squad available,” Jones said. “At the same time, we wanted to bring some young players in because we need to keep building our depth so for those new players it is an exciting opportunity for them.
“Our first task is beating France in France and that is the only game we need to worry about. We will begin our preparations in Portugal, get a bit of sun, some warm conditions and get ourselves physically and mentally right for the game.
“The first three days will be about getting organised. We have got players from 11 clubs so we need to get everyone on the same page quickly, spend a lot of time working on our togetherness and then by Tuesday next week we are in Test preparation for France.”
England have also announced assistant coach Steve Borthwick will leave his post in the national side at the end of the season, and is expected to join Leicester Tigers. He will be replaced by Melbourne Storm’s Jason Ryles as skills coach.
Jones’ England open their Six Nations campaign against France in Paris on Feb. 2.
England squad:
Forwards:
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Dunn (Bath), Ben Earl (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors). Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Alex Moon (Northampton Saints), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Backs:
Elliot Daly (Saracens), Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jacob Umaga (Wasps), Anthony Watson (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)