Seasoned pros Ben Youngs, Courtney Lawes among 15 players called up to England RWC training camp from beaten Premiership semi-finalists Northampton, Leicester; Players from Saracens, Sale to be added; Ollie Lawrence and Jack Walker drop out injured, but rejoin squad for treatment
Last Updated: 19/06/23 9:01am
Courtney Lawes will continue his involvement with the England Squad
Players from Northampton and Leicester, including Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs, will join the England squad as preparations for this year’s Rugby World Cup continue in Brighton.
Players from the clubs that lost in the Premiership semi-finals are able to link up with the England set-up now their five-week recovery period is over.
Northampton lost to Saracens in their Gallagher Premiership semi-final in May. Second row Lawes, as well as back-row Lewis Ludlam, scrum-half Alex Mitchell, centre Fraser Dingwall, fly-half Fin Smith, wing Tommy Freeman and lock David Ribbans all feature in England’s training camp.
Highly experienced scrum-half Ben Youngs is also called up, as one of eight Leicester Tigers players
Lawes has previously captained England but only played once for the national team last season and that was an appearance off the bench, due to an injury-hit campaign.
From Leicester, who lost to Sale in their play-off, the highly experienced Youngs, who’s represented England 122 times, returns to the international set-up.
Other backs Freddie Steward, Anthony Watson and Guy Porter, as well as another Leicester scrum-half, Jack van Poortvliet have also been named.
Leicester and England full-back Freddie Steward has been a key man over the last year or so
Tighthead props Dan Cole and Joe Heyes, and second row George Martin will also continue their involvement with Steve Borthwick’s England.
London Irish wing Ollie Hassell-Collins, and scrum-halves Harry Randall (Bristol) and Ben Spencer (Bath) have dropped out of th …