Henry Arundell has been selected in a senior England squad for the first time as Eddie Jones picked a 36-strong group with next month’s Barbarians fixture in mind.
Arundell has set the Premiership alight with his sensational running skills and the 19-year-old London Irish full-back has been tipped as a prospect who could yet make the 2023 World Cup.
The Saracens loosehead prop Mako Vunipola makes a surprise return, as trailed by the Guardian, and is joined in the group for the three-day training camp by Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson and Jack Willis, who all missed the Six Nations through injury.
A number of senior players, including Henry Slade, Elliot Daly, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler, have been omitted but are expected to be involved in the three-Test series against Australia in July.
“We’re going to use this camp as an opportunity to prepare a base game for the Barbarians fixture and for a really important Australia tour,” Jones said. “We’ll focus on how we want to play, how we want to be as a team off the field and continue to develop the squad cohesiveness and behaviours.
Quick GuideEngland 36-man training squad
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Forwards A Barbeary (Wasps), J Blamire (Newcastle), O Chessum (Leicester), T Curry (Sale), N Dolly (Leicester), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), C Ewels (Bath), E Genge (Leicester), J Heyes (Leicester), M Itoje (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), L Ludlam (Northampton), G McGuigan (Newcastle), T Pearson (London Irish), B Rodd (Sale), W Stuart (Bath), S Underhill (Bath), M Vunipola (Saracens), J Willis (Wasps).
Backs H Arundell (London Irish), O Bailey (Bath), J Cokanasiga (Bath), F Dingwall (Northampton), O Farrell (Saracens), T Freeman (Northampton), G Furbank (Northampton), W Joseph (London Irish), L Lynagh (Harlequins), A Mitchell (Northampton), H Randall (Bristol), M Smith (Harlequins), F Steward (Leicester), M Tuilagi (Sale), J van Poortvliet (Leicester), A Watson (Bath).
“It is also 16 months to the World Cup and every minute counts. We want a hard-working and enjoyable environment for the players and to make sure we are all on the same page. We are allowed a squad of 36 players, so it has been a balancing act.
“We want to take a look at some younger players and prepare a base camp for the Barbarians game, particularly as we will be without the Premiership finalists, and also give some senior players a rest as we get to a crucial part of the season. These players will still be in contention for the Australia tour.”