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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
John Evely

Steve Borthwick names 26-man England squad: Gloucester winger recalled, Marcus Smith released

Gloucester winger Jonny May has been called-up to train as part of head coach Steve Borthwick's 26-player England squad for a three-day training camp in Brighton during the Six Nations fallow well.

May, 32, who is England's second all-time highest try scorer, comes into the squad following Max Malins suffering an ankle injury which mean he is unable to train this week.

Malins has started on the wing in all three of England's Six Nations games this campaign,. including their 20-10 win over Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. The Saracens back will join up with the squad this week for rehab work.

Sale Sharks' currently suspended centre Manu Tuilagi will also train with the squad this week.

The other big news is the fact Sale's George Ford, who won the Premiership title at fly-half for Borthwick when he was head of Leicester Tigers last season, has been recalled after making his first league start in the Sharks' narrow defeat to Exeter Chiefs on Sunday, but at the expense of Marcus Smith who has been sent back to Harlequins to get some game time.

Harlequins host Exeter on Saturday in the rescheduled Big Game 14 at Twickenham.

England will next take on France at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 11 March (4.45pm KO).

Borthwick said: “This week we move our training camp to Brighton, as we meet up again after last weekend’s win in Cardiff.

“The performance against Wales was pleasing in a number of important respects. It was good to see the hard work the squad have put in on the training field reflected in a deserved and hard-won victory.

“Reduced fallow week squad numbers, injuries and our wish for some players to have valuable game time minutes with their clubs, means that the squad gathered in Brighton has a slightly different feel to it. We are very pleased to welcome back Jonny May.

“The players and coaches alike are looking forward to another three days of focused training, before the full squad meets back up back at Pennyhill Park on Sunday, in anticipation of our continued preparations for the remainder of what is proving to be a magnificent Six Nations tournament.”.

A number of England U20s players will also take part in training session this week.

FULL SQUAD
FORWARDS

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 98 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 12 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 75 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 65 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 17 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 77 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 8 caps)

BACKS
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 5 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 104 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
George Ford (Sale Sharks, 81 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 72 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 54 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 53 caps)

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