Jones names four Chiefs in England squad

By Mark Stevens
24/2/22

Four Exeter Chiefs players have been named in Eddie Jones' England side for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations Championship match against Wales at Twickenham (4:45pm).

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade will all start the game, while Sam Simmonds has been named on the bench.

Hooker Cowan-Dickie is one of three changes Jones has made to his starting line-up from that which defeated Italy in the last round. The others coming in are Courtney Lawes, who will start as blind-side flanker and is also named captain, while Manu Tuilagi is paired in the centre alongside Slade.

Elsewhere, Kyle Sinckler will make his 50th appearance for England and Ben Youngs could become England’s most-capped men’s player of all time as he is named as a replacement. Youngs equalled Jason Leonard’s record of 114 caps in England’s 33-0 win away to Italy. He made his debut in March 2010 against Scotland.

Jones said: “We’ve prepared very well for this game, the squad have really come together on and off the pitch. Wales are a good, tough side and Six Nations champions and it will make for an exciting Test match in front of a full Twickenham crowd.

“We’ve got a talented, young, hungry squad who have trained with real intensity this week. We’re ready to go at them and can’t wait to play in front of our supporters again.

“It will also be a special match with two significant milestones for Ben and Kyle, both of who have made outstanding contributions to English rugby so far in their careers. We congratulate them and we know there is more to come ahead for them.”

Former Exeter Chiefs duo Alex Cuthbert and Tomas Francis have been named in the Welsh starting line-up for the game.

The match is live on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live (4.45pm KO).

ENGLAND SIDE TO FACE WALES

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 12 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 7 caps)
9. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
4. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
5. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 53 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, capt 90 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 38 caps)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 6 caps)

16. Jamie George (Saracens, 63 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 76 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 5 caps)
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 114 caps)
22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 54 caps)