England boss Eddie Jones has recalled experienced duo Jonny May and Anthony Watson ahead of next weekend’s game against the Barbarians and July’s tour to Australia.
Both May and Watson missed the 2022 Guinness Six Nations through injury but return in a squad with plenty of new faces.
Wasps duo Biyi Alo and Charlie Atkinson, Gloucester forward Freddie Clarke, Bristol Bears back row Sam Jeffries, and Exeter Chiefs’ Patrick Schickerling are all included in the squad for the first time.
They join a number of other uncapped players such as Paolo Odogwu and Will Joseph as players from the four Premiership semi-final clubs are not included, giving Jones a chance to try out new options.
Winger May has 69 international caps and is England’s second highest try scorer of all time with 35, while Watson has 51 caps and 22 tries to his name.
There are still plenty of recognisable faces from the 2022 Guinness Six Nations, however, with flankers Tom Curry and Sam Underhill alongside lock Charlie Ewels leading the forwards, while Exeter Chiefs winger Jack Nowell also returns.
The squad will meet for a three-day camp this week ahead of their match against the Barbarians next weekend before their tour to Australia and Jones sees it as the perfect opportunity to try out new options.
Jones said: “With a number of players unavailable because of the Premiership semi-finals, we’ve got the opportunity to call up some new players.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn about them and see what potential they have to play a part in the Australia tour.
“We look forward to continuing the good work from our last camp in developing this team on and off the pitch.”
England face Barbarians on 19 June at Twickenham Stadium before traveling to Australia for a three-Test series against the Wallabies, with the games taking place in Perth on July 2, Brisbane on July 9 and Sydney on July 16.
England squad for three-day camp:
Biyi Alo (Wasps, uncapped) Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped) Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps) Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps) Freddie Clarke (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 40 caps) Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 30 caps) Will Goodrick-Clarke (London Irish, uncapped) Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps) Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors, 2 caps) Sam Jeffries (Bristol Bears, uncapped) George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped) Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped) Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps) Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped) Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps) Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 20 caps) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 28 caps) Jack Willis (Wasps, 3 caps) Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped) Charlie Atkinson (Wasps, uncapped) Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap) Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 11 caps) Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped) Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps) Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 39 caps) Paolo Odogwu (Wasps, uncapped) Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Tom Parton (London Irish, uncapped) Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps) Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 6 caps) Dan Robson (Wasps, 14 caps)
