Uncapped wing Ruaridh McConnochie was the shock inclusion in England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad today as Eddie Jones named his 31-man group for Japan.
McConnochie, who began his career playing sevens, has burst onto the scene with Bath and, despite having yet to earn his first cap, has been called up by Jones.
While it was delight for McConnochie it was heartbreak for Ben Te’o who, along with Harlequins full-back Mike Brown, has been left out of the 31.
The pair were reported to have been involved in a bust-up during England’s camp in Treviso earlier this month and were not involved against Wales yesterday.
“A lot of good players have missed out, we feel for them, I feel for them personally,” said Jones.
“But as we know the World Cup is an incredible tournament where opportunities can present themselves and all those players who have missed out have been told they have to be ready.”
Along with Gloucester fly-half Danny Cipriani, Brown and Te’o were two of the notable absentees today but prop Harry Williams also failed to make the cut.
The 27-year-old is a victim of Joe Marler’s international comeback. The Harlequins prop has come out of retirement and was today named in England’s World Cup squad.
He is one of five props and is joined by fellow looseheads Mako Vunipola and Ellis Genge, while Kyle Sinckler and Dan Cole are the tightheads. Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Singleton are the hookers.
Given England’s abundance of riches at second row Jones has elected to take four, with Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury all getting the nod. Back-rowers Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Lewis Ludlam, Mark Wilson and Billy Vunipola complete the forwards who will be on the plane to Japan.
Ludlam’s inclusion comes as a shock given he only made his debut yesterday, but he has beaten Wasps’ Brad Shields after starring against Wales.
In the backs, Gloucester’s Willi Heinz has won the battle to go as Ben Youngs’ understudy as Jones sticks to his principal of only taking two scrum-halves. Saracens’ Ben Spencer is the unlucky party there.
Similarly only two fly-halves make the plane - captain Owen Farrell and Leicester Tiger’s George Ford.
Te’o’s absence means that Piers Francis is the surprise inclusion in the centres. The 29-year-old has hardly been a regular under Jones but is one of four centres on the plans, along with Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi and Johnathan Joseph.
Here is the England Rugby World Cup squad in full
| Forwards | Club | Caps |
| Dan Cole | Leicester Tigers | 86 |
| Luke Cowan-Dickie | Exeter Chiefs | 12 |
| Tom Curry | Sale Sharks | 11 |
| Ellis Genge | Leicester Tigers | 10 |
| Jamie George | Saracens | 37 |
| Maro Itoje | Saracens | 27 |
| George Kruis | Saracens | 32 |
| Joe Launchbury | Wasps | 59 |
| Courtney Lawes | Northampton Saints | 72 |
| Lewis Ludlam | Northampton Saints | 1 |
| Joe Marler | Harlequins | 58 |
| Kyle Sinckler | Harlequins | 22 |
| Jack Singleton | Saracens | 1 |
| Sam Underhill | Bath Rugby | 9 |
| Billy Vunipola | Saracens | 42 |
| Mako Vunipola | Saracens | 53 |
| Mark Wilson | Newcastle Falcons / Sale Sharks | 13 |
| Backs | Club | Caps |
| Joe Cokanasiga | Bath Rugby | 5 |
| Elliot Daly | Saracens | 31 |
| Owen Farrell | Saracens | 70 |
| George Ford | Leicester Tigers | 56 |
| Piers Francis | Northampton Saints | 5 |
| Willi Heinz | Gloucester Rugby | 1 |
| Jonathan Joseph | Bath Rugby | 41 |
| Jonny May | Leicester Tigers | 45 |
| Ruaridh McConnochie | Bath Rugby | 0 |
| Jack Nowell | Exeter Chiefs | 33 |
| Henry Slade | Exeter Chiefs | 22 |
| Manu Tuilagi | Leicester Tigers | 33 |
| Anthony Watson | Bath Rugby | 34 |
| Ben Youngs | Leicester Tigers | 86 |
Competition was always going to be great in the battle for the spots at wing at full-back and the fact Brown misses out shows that. In his absence Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Jack Nowell, Joe Cokanasiga and Jonny join the McConnochie - who is the only uncapped player in the squad.
There could still be hope for Brown and others as, while Jones has named his squad, injuries could mean it changes before England fly to Japan next month.
Countries do not have to officially submit their squads until September 8, but Jones has named his early to end speculation.
That does mean, however, players can force their way in if injuries create spots. Brown, for example, could find himself back in the reckoning if Nowell does not recover from the ankle injury he picked up during the Premiership final in June.
England still have three warm-up games left before they fly to Japan next month, beginning with a trip to Cardiff this Saturday to take on Wales.
Following on from that they will host Ireland at Twickenham, before finally welcoming Italy to Newcastle for Test at St. James’ Park.
