Five Chiefs in England squad

By Mark Stevens
18/1/18

England head coach Eddie Jones has named five Exeter Chiefs players in his squad to begin preparations for England’s first match of the NatWest 6 Nations against Italy in Rome (Sunday, February 4, 3pm).

Harry Willliams, Henry Slade and Sam Simmonds, all of whom featured during England’s successful Old Mutual Wealth Series in the Autumn are all retained, while there is a recall to the squad for fit-again winger Jack Nowell and a first-ever senior call-up for prop Alec Hepburn.

Following this weekend’s club fixtures in Europe, the quintet will be part of a 35-man squad that will travel to Portugal for a week-long training camp before reconvening on Monday, January 29 at Pennyhill Park ahead of the tournament opener.

Jones has selected eight uncapped players, including Hepburn, while there are 898 caps between the other 27 players in the squad.

He said: “I have selected the strongest available squad to prepare for our opening match against Italy. It is important we start the tournament well and we will spend the next two weeks training smart and really fine-tuning our game plan for the Italy match next month.

“I am expecting a really positive training camp in Portugal and while we have a few players unavailable through injury or suspension, it has provided opportunity for others who will be desperate to be involved in the Italy game.”

England Squad

Backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Nathan Earle (Saracens) *
Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints) *
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins) * **
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards

Lewis Boyce (Harlequins) *
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby) *
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs) *
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons) *
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Uncapped *
Apprentice player **