Danny Care is joined by both Billy and Mako Vunipola in Eddie Jones’ England squad for the summer tour of Australia.
Jones has named a 36-man squad for the three Test series against the Wallabies, with the first test on July 2 in Perth.
Care, who came on as a replacement in the defeat to the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday, is in line to make his first Test appearance since the victory over Japan in November 2018.
The Vunipola brothers were also notably left out of Jones’ previous squads, not featuring since the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.
Jones has called on 12 players involved in Saturday’s Premiership final between Leicester Tigers and Saracens, while there are also eight uncapped players.
Northampton Saints duo Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman, Leicester Tigers pair Guy Porter and Jack van Poortvliet, Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs) and Jack Walker (Harlequins) are all in line for first caps, while London Irish’s teenage sensations Henry Arundell and Will Joseph are selected as apprentice players.
There are ten players missing through injury, including George Ford, who was forced off early in Tigers’ Premiership triumph on Saturday, while Alex Dombrandt suffered an injury in England training in the week.
England last visited Australia in 2016, in a 3-0 series win, with ten current players involved – Care, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Owen Farrell, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Jack Nowell, Billy Vunipola and Mako Vunipola.
Jones, who remains unbeaten against Australia as England head coach, said: “Though we have ten players unavailable due to injury, we have picked a very strong squad capable of winning the series.
“This squad is a real mix of young, talented players and some very experienced, senior players and we’re looking forward to bring the group together.
“This tour will be a great experience for the group and a crucial part of the team’s work towards the Rugby World Cup in 2023. We will continue to develop the base of the squad and how we want to play.
“We’ve put a lot of work into preparation for the tour over the past few weeks but now the hard work really begins when we finally get the squad on the plane and to Australia.”
England squad to tour Australia:
FORWARDSOllie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)Jamie George (Saracens, 66 caps)Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 7 caps)Maro Itoje (Saracens, 56 caps)Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 93 caps)Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 61 caps)Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 67 caps)Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)Jack Willis (Wasps, 3 caps) BACKSHenry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped) *apprentice playerDanny Care (Harlequins, 84 caps)Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps)Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped) *apprentice playerJoe Marchant (Harlequins, 12 caps)Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps)Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 39 caps)Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 10 caps)Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps) Unavailable for selection due to injury – Nic Dolly, Alex Dombrandt, George Ford, Joe Launchbury, Louis Lynagh, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Watson
Tour Schedule:
Tuesday June 21 – Travel to Australia
Saturday July 2 – Australia v England (Optus Stadium, Perth) 10:55am KO – Live on Sky Sports
Saturday July 9 – Australia v England (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) 10:55am KO – Live on Sky Sports
Saturday July 16 – Australia v England (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney) 10:55am KO – Live on Sky Sports
