Uncapped Ashton Named In EPS Squad
Uncapped pair Hape and Ashton are called up to Senior EPS, whilst other familiar faces return from injury.
The January 2010 England Senior EPS and Saxons EPS squads have been announced by England Team Manager Martin Johnson and England Saxons Head Coach Stuart Lancaster.
Steve Thompson (CA Brive), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), the uncapped Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby) and Ben Foden (Northampton Saints) have all been included in the England Senior Elite Player Squad announced today.
The Senior EPS also includes the return from injury of a number of players including Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Delon Armitage (London Irish), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers) and Riki Flutey (CA Brive).
Winger Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints) has been added to the squad from the Saxons as an injury replacement for prop Phil Vickery (London Wasps).
Final decisions and replacements, if required, for Senior EPS Players Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks) and Julian White (Leicester Tigers) will be made on 25 January.
There are also injury concerns within the England Senior EPS regarding Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby) and Joe Worsley (London Wasps) and both players will continue to be monitored by the England and their respective club medical teams.
England play Wales in the opening round of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations on February 6, almost 100 years to the day since they first met at Twickenham Stadium when England won 11-6 in 1910. A number of special events and activities will be held on match day to commemorate the Centenary of Twickenham Stadium. Details of the Twickenham Stadium Centenary season can be found at rfu.com/centenary.
England Senior EPS Squad
Forwards
Steffon Armitage London Irish
Steve Borthwick (Captain) Saracens
Jordan Crane Leicester Tigers
Tom Croft Leicester Tigers
Louis Deacon Leicester Tigers
Tom Croft LeicesterTigers
Nick Easter Harlequins
Dylan Hartley Northampton Saints
James Haskell Stade Francais
Courtney Lawes Northampton Saints
Lee Mears Bath Rugby
Lewis Moody Leicester Tigers
Tim Payne London Wasps
Simon Shaw London Wasps
Andrew Sheridan Sale Sharks
Steve Thompson CA Brive
Julian White Leicester Tigers
David Wilson Bath Rugby
Backs
Delon Armitage London Irish
Matt Banahan Bath Rugby
Danny Care Harlequins
Mark Cueto Sale Sharks
Harry Ellis Leicester Tigers
Toby Flood Leicester Tigers
Ben Foden Northampton Saints
Riki Flutey CA Brive
Shontanye Hape Bath Rugby
Dan Hipkiss Leicester Tigers
Paul Hodgson London Irish
Ugo Monye Harlequins
Mathew Tait Sale Sharks
Jonny Wilkinson Toulon
Two more backs will also be named in the Saxons on 25 January, one to replace Chris Ashton who has been included in the Senior EPS.
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) has been added to the Saxons as a replacement for the injured Joe Simpson (London Wasps).
Final decisions on replacements for the injured Tom Rees (London Wasps) and Alex Corbisiero (London Irish) will also be made on 25 January.
Forwards
David Attwood Gloucester Rugby
Duncan Bell Bath Rugby
George Chuter Leicester Tigers
Dan Cole Leicester Tigers
Alex Corbisiero London Irish
Phil Dowson Northampton Saints
Ben Kay Leicester Tigers
Nick Kennedy London Irish
Matthew Mullan Worcester Warriors
David Paice London Irish
Tom Rees London Wasps
Chris Robshaw Harlequins
Andy Saull Saracens
George Skivington London Wasps
Dan Ward-Smith London Wasps
Rob Webber London Wasps
Nick Wood Gloucester Rugby
Ben Woods Leicester Tigers
Backs
Chris Ashton Northampton Saints
Brad Barritt Saracens
Danny Cipriani London Wasps
Shane Geraghty Northampton Saints
Charlie Hodgson Sale Sharks
Stephen Myler Northampton Saints
Olly Morgan Gloucester Rugby
Paul Sackey London Wasps
Joe Simpson London Wasps
David Strettle Harlequins
Dominic Waldouck London Wasps
Richard Wigglesworth Sale Sharks
Mickey Young Newcastle Falcons
