Rugby World Cup puzzler as England ADD 5 to 38-man squad they must cut to 31

Mike Brown has been recalled to England’s rugby training squad days after being led to believe his World Cup dream was dead.

Brown, the nation’s most-capped fullback, feared the worst when he was omitted from a list of 38 names, from which the 31 to represent England in Japan was meant to come.

But head coach Eddie Jones muddied the waters on Sunday by adding five players for his upcoming Bristol training camp, among them the 72-cap Harlequins stalwart.

Jones refuses to explain the significance of recalling Brown, Alex Dombrandt, Marcus Smith, Tom Dunn and Ollie Thorley, nor will he say whether consigning Danny Cipriani, Sam Underhill and Anthony Watson to “specialised strength and conditioning work separately, off-site” is a black mark against their names.

Brown is trying to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge all the way to the World Cup in Japan (Getty)

“Our preparation is about making sure the players peak for the World Cup,” he stated, cryptically. “It’s not about being ready now for it [England's first group game is on September 22].

“Some players we feel will benefit now from being away from the camp for a little bit and will do specialised strength and conditioning work. We want to keep the squad fresh and alive which is important and we want to make sure there is a little bit of cooperative competition for selection and edge around.

“The ante goes up again in this week. The players who have come in from the Premiership final will increase their contribution and the other guys are in their fourth week and are starting to get near good physical condition.”

Instead of whittling it down to the 31 he's allowed, Jones' pre-World Cup squad is getting BIGGER (PA Wire)

FORWARDS Dan Cole (Leicester, 85 caps), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter, 11), Tom Curry (Sale, 10),Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, None), Tom Dunn (Bath, None), Charlie Ewels (Bath, 10), Ellis Genge (Leicester, 9), Jamie George (Saracens, 37), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27), George Kruis (Saracens, 32), Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 58), Courtney Lawes (Northampton, 71), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton, None), Joe Marler (Harlequins, 59), Ben Moon (Exeter, 8), Brad Shields (Wasps, 8), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22), Jack Singleton (Saracens, None), Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 41), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53), Harry Williams (Exeter, 17), Mark Wilson (Newcastle, 13).

BACKS Mike Brown (Harlequins, 72), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath, 4), Elliot Daly (Saracens, 30), Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70), George Ford (Leicester, 55), Piers Francis (Northampton, 4), Willi Heinz (Gloucester, None), Jonathan Joseph (Bath, 40), Jonny May (Leicester, 45), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath, None), Jack Nowell (Exeter, 33), Henry Slade (Exeter, 22), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, None), Ben Spencer (Saracens, 3), Ben Te’o (Unattached, 18), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester, None), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester, 32), Ben Youngs (Leicester, 85).