Jones names England's official Rugby World Cup training squad
England men's head coach Eddie Jones has named his official Rugby World Cup 2019 training squad. 35 players will assemble at The Lensbury Hotel on Sunday (7 July) for England's first official training camp.
Premiership finalists Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Owen
Farrell (Saracens), Jamie George (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens),
Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Spencer
(Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Saracens) and Harry Williams (Exeter
Chiefs) return to the England setup following their
off-season.
Joe Marler (Harlequins) is named after making himself available for
selection. The 29 year-old prop retired from international rugby in
last September having played 59 Tests for England.
Jones has included four uncapped players in the group. Gloucester
Rugby's halfback and captain Willi Heinz is joined by former
England U20 forward Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), former
England Sevens player and Olympic silver medallist Ruaridh
McConnochie (Bath Rugby) and Saracens' new signing Jack
Singleton.
While not named in the initial 35-man squad, George Kruis
(Saracens), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) and Mako Vunipola
(Saracens) will continue their rehabilitation in camp and are still
considered for selection.
Jones said: "We can't wait to have the full squad in place and to
have players competing for those 31 places. It is a process of
building the team up, building the cohesion, the tactical
understanding of the team and our adaptability. We will need to get
those things right to win the World Cup, and that is our
aim."
On his selection decisions Jones said: "World Cup selection is a
four-year process. We have looked at the squad carefully, tried to
build up a squad that has enough experience, attitude and energy to
be winners and I think we have that. In the process, we have left
out some players who can feel unlucky. For those guys who have
missed out, the door is never closed but they have just got to be
ready, as you never know when the opportunity comes."
Following two weeks of England training camps, Jones added: "The
last two camps have been a head start for us. It has allowed the
guys who didn't play in the semi-finals or final to get some good
conditioning work in and also some fundamental skill work so we
expect them to set a high standard when the rest of the squad join
us on July 7.
"The players have come in the best physical condition I have ever
seen an England squad. The attitude of the players is that they are
excited and hungry, they want to do well for themselves, their
family and for their country."
On Marler's decision to come out of international retirement, Jones
added: "I saw Joe during the Barbarians' week and he indicated that
he had a desire to come back. We have since had a couple of chats
and we have given him the opportunity to do that. Now it is up to
him to show us what he has got."
With England's first official training camp starting on Sunday
Jones said: "For the fans it is the start of the journey so we want
you to be with us; we are all in this together. We are looking
forward to seeing your support."
England will play Wales (11 August) and Ireland (24 August) at
Twickenham Stadium and Italy (6 September) in Newcastle as part of
the Quilter Internationals as well as an away fixture against Wales
(17 August) in Cardiff.
England will travel to Treviso, Italy for a heat camp from 22 July
until 2 August before returning to Italy on 28 August until 5
September. The squad will also be based in Bristol for a week in
July (14-18) and in August (12-16) ahead of England's away match
against Wales. For the two matches against Wales and Ireland at
Twickenham Stadium, the squad will train at Pennyhill Park.
England will begin their Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan against
Tonga in Sapporo (22 September, KO 11:15am UK time) before playing
USA Rugby in Kobe (26 September, KO 11:45am UK time), Argentina in
Tokyo (5 October, KO 09:00am UK time) and France in Yokohama (12
October, KO 09:15am UK time).
Experience dinner with the full England training squad at Twickenham Stadium on 6 August - more details here