Eddie Jones names 12 uncapped players in England’s Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup training squad

Ali Crossdale, Jack Clement, Joe Heyes, Simon Kerrod, Lewis Ludlow and David Ribbans are all called up for the first time

Eddie Jones has named 12 uncapped players in his England training squad (Reuters)

Eddie Jones has named 12 uncapped players in his first England training squad since the coronavirus pandemic, with six called up for the first time ahead of their Six Nations finale against Italy.

Jones is unable to call on any players who may feature in the European and Premiership finals over the next two weeks, meaning he is without the bulk of his first-choice squad for the first of two three-day training camps in London this week.

Players from Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears have been omitted ahead of their respective Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals next week, while the uncertainty over the Premiership semi-finalists means that Jones cannot call on any players from Wasps, Bath or Sale Sharks.

Sale are due to play their postponed game against Worcester Warriors on Wednesday following the weekend’s controversy, which saw their match delayed after returning 16 positive coronavirus test results on Thursday, while Northampton Saints were forced to forfeit their match with Gloucester as the bulk of their squad entered self-isolation following their defeat against the Sharks last Thursday.

Jones has elected to call up six players from Northampton into a 28-man squad, including South African-born lock David Ribbans, who joins lock Alex Moon, scrum-half Alex Mitchell and centre Fraser Dingwall among the uncapped contingent. Centre Piers Francis and full-back George Furbank are also retained from the Six Nations squad that was selected by Jones in March, with all available to join up with the England squad this week.

However, flanker Lewis Ludlam was not considered as he remains one of those in self-isolation.

Jones has also called up 22-year-old wing Ali Crossdale as part of a seven-strong party from Saracens, with Owen Farrell included after serving his five-match ban for a dangerous tackle last month.

Young Harlequins No 8 Alex Dombrandt is recalled for the first time since last year’s Rugby World Cup training squad, and he is joined by teammate Simon Kerrod, who makes up one of two uncapped tighthead props as Leicester’s Joe Heyes is also included for the first time.

Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow and No 8 Jack Clement make up the final new additions, with teammate Ollie Thorley also included as he continues to push for his first cap.

It is the first squad Jones has been able to select in more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, although it is expected to change drastically between now and England’s first fixture of the autumn when they face the Barbarians on 25 October, once other players become available. Due to the impact of having to operate in a socially-distanced bio-bubble, the squad will be based at the Lensbury Hotel in Twickenham as opposed to their usual base at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, with next week’s three-day camp also taking place a stone’s throw from their home stadium where they will play Georgia and Ireland this autumn.

“Our preparation to build the team for the Italy game starts now,” said Jones. “We have a three day camp this week and another one next week then we’re into the week of our Quilter Cup match against the Barbarians.

“We’ll be slowly building up, working on the basics and working on team cohesion.

“We’re excited to be back together in camp representing England. This autumn we want to play for the fans and give them something to smile about.”

England training squad

Backs

Ali Crossdale, Saracens*

Elliot Daly, Saracens

Fraser Dingwall, Northampton Saints*

Nathan Earle, Harlequins*

Owen Farrell, Saracens

George Ford, Leicester Tigers

Piers Francis, Northampton Saints

George Furbank, Northampton Saints

Willi Heinz, Gloucester Rugby

Joe Marchant, Harlequins

Jonny May, Gloucester Rugby

Alex Mitchell, Northampton Saints*

Ollie Thorley, Gloucester Rugby*

Ben Youngs, Leicester Tigers

Forwards

Jack Clement, Gloucester Rugby*

Alex Dombrandt, Harlequins*

Ellis Genge, Leicester Tigers

Jamie George, Saracens

Joe Heyes, Leicester Tigers*

Maro Itoje, Saracens

Simon Kerrod, Harlequins*

Lewis Ludlow, Gloucester Rugby*

Alex Moon, Northampton Saints*

David Ribbans, Northampton Saints*

Jack Singleton, Gloucester Rugby

Billy Vunipola, Saracens

Mako Vunipola, Saracens

Mark Wilson, Newcastle Falcons

* Uncapped players