ENGLAND RUGBY Call-ups for Ford, Nowell and Watson
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- Created on Wednesday, 08 January 2014 15:15
- Last Updated on Friday, 10 January 2014 11:37
- Published on Wednesday, 08 January 2014 15:15
Stuart Lancaster admits he is excited about the inclusion of Bath’s 20-year-old fly half George Ford in the England Senior squad.
Having starred for England’s Under 20 side for the past three years, Ford, Bath team-mate Anthony Watson and Exeter Chiefs' Cornish flyer Jack Nowell have been on Lancaster’s radar for a long time.
Ford replaces Leicester Tigers’ Toby Flood in the mid-season squad revision and England head coach Lancaster admits: “I am delighted for George, who is rewarded for his form for Bath, and we are excited about including him in the Senior Elite Player Squad.
“We have kept changes to a minimum because we believe that this squad can take us forward into 2015 and we are hopeful that some of those injured may be available before the end of the Six Nations and certainly for the New Zealand tour.”
Ford’s promotion is accompanied by call-ups for eight other England Saxons who will - pending fitness following Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup Rounds 5 and 6 - join the RBS 6 Nations training squad at Pennyhill Park on Monday January 20 as injury replacements for players who will remain in the Senior EPS.
It's a massive, merited step up for the likes of Ford, Watson and Nowell.
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints) Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) Matt Mullan (London Wasps) Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers) Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks) and Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby) replace Manusamoa Tuilagi (chest) Tom Croft (knee) Marland Yarde (hip) Alex Corbisiero (knee) Christian Wade (foot) Geoff Parling (shoulders) David Wilson (calf) and Ben Foden (knee) respectively.
In addition, Rob Webber (Bath Rugby) Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints) and Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens) will train with the Senior squad.
Lancaster adds: “I have met Toby Flood several times and told him I really wanted him to stay at Leicester and play for England. He has made a lifestyle choice and we respect that but given the RFU’s policy of not selecting players based overseas save for exceptional circumstances it was important that we allow others such as George Ford to progress.
“Stephen Myler has a chance to lay down a marker when he trains with us while we have decided that Freddie Burns should get more international game time with the Saxons against the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds at Kingsholm on January 25, while Rob Webber and Richard Wigglesworth will give us some depth to our training.”
ENGLAND RBS 6 NATIONS SQUAD
Forwards
David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mullan (London Wasps)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Backs
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
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