Joe Marler has come out of international retirement and been included in England’s World Cup training squad.
The Harlequins prop confirmed as recently as yesterday that his status as a former England player had NOT changed.
Yet today he is one of 35 players named by head coach Eddie Jones to prepare for the tournament in Japan.
Jones said: “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.”
Mike Brown, England’s most-capped fullback, is the most notable casualty, joining Harlequins’ club mates Chris Robshaw and Danny Care in the wilderness. But Danny Cipriani makes the cut.
Injured trio George Kruis, Jack Nowell and Mako Vunipola are omitted for the list but will continue their rehabilitation in camp and are still considered for selection.
Jones, who yesterday took his squad to the beaches of Newquay to team bond over lifesaving drills, added: "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."
England’s official Rugby World Cup 2019 training squad
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 85 caps)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 37 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 58 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 71 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 59 caps)
Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
Brad Shields (Wasps, 8 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Jack Singleton (Saracens, uncapped)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 9 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 41 caps)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps)
Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
Backs
Danny Cipriani (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 30 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 40 caps)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps)
Ben Spencer (Saracens, 3 caps)
Ben Te’o (unattached, 18 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 32 caps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 85 caps)
In camp for rehabilitation
George Kruis (Saracens, 32 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps)
