Steve Borthwick has announced his second squad of the summer as England begin to ramp up their World Cup preparations.
After an initial 28-man squad was announced last week, Borthwick’s squad is boosted by the arrival of players from Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers.
Fifteen players from those two clubs are included in England’s 38-man pre-World Cup squad, who are set for a training camp in Brighton.
Eight come from Borthwick’s former club Leicester Tigers, including centurions Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, while there are seven Saints introduced to the squad, most notably vice-captain Courtney Lawes.
Players from Gallagher Premiership finalists Sale Sharks and Saracens are still yet to be included.
Borthwick said: “After an excellent first week’s training, we are very much looking forward to being in Brighton.
“We’re pleased to welcome players from Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers who can now start to integrate themselves into the group, and we look forward to players from Sale Sharks and Saracens joining us in a fortnight.
“The first phase of our preparation continues to focus on ensuring the players are physically equipped for what we need to do in a World Cup campaign. That means the training will be tough and purposeful. The players are rising to the challenge.
“We’ll work hard again this week, and we’ll enjoy some time together off the field too – which is also an important part of our preparation.”
Ollie Lawrence and Jack Walker will re-join the squad for treatment after picking up a knee and calf injury respectively in training camp last week, while Billy Vunipola, Ollie Chessum and Luke Cowan-Dickie remain in camp for rehabilitation.38-player training squad: Forwards (20) Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons) Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) Ted Hill (Bath Rugby)Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)Joe Marler (Harlequins)George Martin (Leicester Tigers)Zach Mercer (Montpellier Hérault Rugby) Beno Obano (Bath Rugby) Tom Pearson (London Irish) Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby)David Ribbans (Northampton Saints) Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby) Backs (18) Henry Arundell (London Irish)Danny Care (Harlequins)Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)Will Joseph (London Irish)Joe Marchant (Harlequins)Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)Cadan Murley (Harlequins)Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers)Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)Marcus Smith (Harlequins)Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
