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Sam Burgess named in England’s 50-man squad for Rugby World Cup Sam Burgess named in England’s 50-man squad for Rugby World Cup
(35 minutes later)
The former rugby league forward Sam Burgess has been named in England’s 50-man training squad for this autumn’s Rugby World Cup although, as revealed by The Guardian, there is no place for the Toulon-based Steffon Armitage. The former rugby league forward Sam Burgess has been named in England’s 50-man training squad for this autumn’s Rugby World Cup although, as revealed by the Guardian, there is no place for the Toulon-based Steffon Armitage.
The Saracens pair of Chris Ashton and Maro Itoje are also in the frame as Stuart Lancaster begins the countdown to this year’s tournament on home soil.The Saracens pair of Chris Ashton and Maro Itoje are also in the frame as Stuart Lancaster begins the countdown to this year’s tournament on home soil.
Ashton has not featured for England since last year’s tour to New Zealand but has scored 13 Premiership tries this season, including four against London Welsh last Saturday.Ashton has not featured for England since last year’s tour to New Zealand but has scored 13 Premiership tries this season, including four against London Welsh last Saturday.
Despite winning last year’s European Player of the Year award and being shortlisted for the same prize this year, the Toulon-based Armitage has fallen foul of the rule barring overseas-based players from representing England other than in “exceptional circumstances”. Despite winning last year’s European player of the year award and being shortlisted for the same prize this year, the Toulon-based Armitage has fallen foul of the rule barring overseas-based players from representing England other than in “exceptional circumstances”.
Instead, Lancaster has opted to retain his faith in home-reared back-rowers such as Northampton’s Calum Clark and Gloucester’s Matt Kvesic. Instead, Lancaster has opted to retain his faith in Northampton’s Calum Clark and Gloucester’s Matt Kvesic.
Considering he only made his union debut for Bath at the end of November, Burgess has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the 15-man game.Considering he only made his union debut for Bath at the end of November, Burgess has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the 15-man game.
Having begun his career with Bradford Bulls, Burgess signed for Russell Crowe’s South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2009, his last match being the 2014 NRL Grand Final in which he helped his team to victory despite suffering a broken cheekbone. The 26-year-old then switched codes to join Bath last October for whom he has played as centre and more recently flanker.Having begun his career with Bradford Bulls, Burgess signed for Russell Crowe’s South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2009, his last match being the 2014 NRL Grand Final in which he helped his team to victory despite suffering a broken cheekbone. The 26-year-old then switched codes to join Bath last October for whom he has played as centre and more recently flanker.
The 50-man group will meet up at Pennyhill Park on Monday, 22 June to begin preparing for the tournament which starts against Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on Friday, 18 September. The 50-man group will meet up at Pennyhill Park on Monday 22 June to begin preparing for the tournament which starts against Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on Friday 18 September.
Lancaster said: “We are excited to name this extended squad which allows us to look at a wide group of players who have been pushing hard for selection in training with us or playing well for their clubs this season.Lancaster said: “We are excited to name this extended squad which allows us to look at a wide group of players who have been pushing hard for selection in training with us or playing well for their clubs this season.
“It’s great to be able to include Alex Corbisiero, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Ed Slater and David Wilson, who missed the Six Nations because of injury and are close to returning to play or have recently begun playing again.“It’s great to be able to include Alex Corbisiero, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Ed Slater and David Wilson, who missed the Six Nations because of injury and are close to returning to play or have recently begun playing again.
“There are a lot of experienced internationals within the squad with the likes of Ashton and David Strettle, who are in great form, returning and it’s also good to have young players like Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daly, Itoje and Henry Slade in there who have come through our player development pathway and had great seasons for their clubs.“There are a lot of experienced internationals within the squad with the likes of Ashton and David Strettle, who are in great form, returning and it’s also good to have young players like Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daly, Itoje and Henry Slade in there who have come through our player development pathway and had great seasons for their clubs.
“Ben Foden, Joe Simpson and Tom Croft have not been included at this stage due to ongoing rehabilitation from injury but will hopefully come into consideration nearer the tournament. “Ben Foden, Joe Simpson and Tom Croft have not been included at this stage due to ongoing rehabilitation from injury but will hopefully come into consideration nearer the tournament. A number of this 50-man squad, such as Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly, Danny Cipriani and Marland Yarde will be involved in the England XV side playing the Barbarians on 31 May following the Premiership semi-finals.
“A number of this 50-man squad, such as Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly, Danny Cipriani and Marland Yarde will be involved in the England XV side playing the Barbarians on 31 May following the Premiership semi-finals. “There will also be opportunities for the likes of Dave Ewers and Christian Wade, who just missed out on the initial selection but could come back in further down the line.”
“There will also be opportunities for the likes of Dave Ewers and Christian Wade who just missed out on the initial selection but could come back in further down the line.” The England squad to play the Barbarians will be announced at 5pm on Sunday, once the Premiership finalists are known, as a number of players from the losing semi-finalists could be involved.
The England squad to play the Barbarians will be announced at 5pm on Sunday once the Premiership finalists are known as a number of players from the losing semi-finalists could be involved.
England’s final 31-man squad is due to be confirmed on 31 August.England’s final 31-man squad is due to be confirmed on 31 August.
England 50-man training squadEngland 50-man training squad
Full-backs M Brown (Harlequins), A Goode (Saracens). Wings C Ashton (Saracens), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), A Watson (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins), D Strettle (Saracens). Centres B Barritt (Saracens), S Burgess (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton), E Daly (Wasps), K Eastmond (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester). Fly-halves D Cipriani (Sale Sharks), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), S Myler (Northampton). Scrum-halves D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester). Hookers L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), D Hartley (Northampton), R Webber (Bath), T Youngs (Leicester). Props K Brookes (Newcastle), A Corbisiero (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), J Marler (Harlequins), M Mullan (Wasps), M Vunipola (Saracens), D Wilson (Bath). Locks D Attwood (Bath), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), G Parling (Leicester). Flankers C Clark (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), M Kvesic (Gloucester), C Robshaw (Harlequins), E Slater (Leicester), T Wood (Northampton). No8s N Easter (Harlequins), B Morgan (Gloucester), B Vunipola (Saracens).Full-backs M Brown (Harlequins), A Goode (Saracens). Wings C Ashton (Saracens), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), A Watson (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins), D Strettle (Saracens). Centres B Barritt (Saracens), S Burgess (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton), E Daly (Wasps), K Eastmond (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester). Fly-halves D Cipriani (Sale Sharks), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), S Myler (Northampton). Scrum-halves D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester). Hookers L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), D Hartley (Northampton), R Webber (Bath), T Youngs (Leicester). Props K Brookes (Newcastle), A Corbisiero (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), J Marler (Harlequins), M Mullan (Wasps), M Vunipola (Saracens), D Wilson (Bath). Locks D Attwood (Bath), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), G Parling (Leicester). Flankers C Clark (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), M Kvesic (Gloucester), C Robshaw (Harlequins), E Slater (Leicester), T Wood (Northampton). No8s N Easter (Harlequins), B Morgan (Gloucester), B Vunipola (Saracens).