Bristol Bears tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler has not been named in Eddie Jones’ first 36-man training squad to prepare for this summer’s tour to Australia.
British and Irish Lions star Sinckler has been struggling with back issues since playing for England in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations.
While the 29-year-old could feature for Bristol Bears on Friday night when they face Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate in Round 25 of the Gallagher Premiership, Lam was quick to point out rest and recovery is vital for a senior international player like Sinckler having come into the season off the back of a Lions tour and with the World Cup in 2023.
Lam said: “Kyle came back from the Six Nations with niggles and we have been working with him and talking with England, with the medical teams and the S&C teams, everyone is working to get rid of all these niggles and to get back him back to full fitness.”
READ MORE: Bristol Bears retained list: Pat Lam confirms 2022/23 squad and 11 departing players
Just one Bristol Bears player, scrum-half Harry Randall, has been included in Jones squad at he looks to lock down the number nine jersey.
The 36 players will meet on Sunday for a brief three-day training camp in London as they begin preparations for next month’s home game against Barbarians [Sunday 19 June] and ahead of their tour to Australia in July.
Joe Cokanasiga, Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson and Jack Willis return to the squad following injury.
Elsewhere there are first-time involvements in a senior squad for London Irish duo Henry Arundell and Will Joseph, along with Leicester Tigers’ Jack van Poortvliet. There are 10 uncapped players and seven with more than 50 caps, including a return for Mako Vunipola.
Sinckler could well be a player who would benefit from not touring Down Under this summer and instead have a full pre-season with the Bears.
Lam said: “Whatever is going to happen he needs to have a break. All players are going to get a break, whether that is when the tour is on or after the tour to Australia.
“Every player wants to play in that World Cup and they will all have different ways or plans on how to get there and rest is always factored into everyone’s program but I think ultimately if you look at the team that goes on the tour before the World Cup is never the World Cup team.
As the Gallagher Premiership season reaches its climax, Jones has chosen to rest some players for the training camp. He said: “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.
“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.
“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.”
England will host Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 19 June (3pm KO).
They will then travel to Australia to face the Wallabies in Perth (Saturday 2 July, 11.05am BST KO), Brisbane (Saturday 9 July, 11.05am BST KO) and Sydney (Saturday 16 July, 11.05am BST KO). All matches will be live on Sky Sports.
Full squad below....
FORWARDS
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)
Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 56 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 70 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 93 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)
George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 67 caps)
Jack Willis (Wasps, 3 caps)
BACKS
Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped)
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped)
Louis Lynagh (Harlequins, uncapped)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 10 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 51 caps)
