Jones names quartet in training squad

By Mark Stevens
29/12/17

Four Exeter Chiefs players have been selected by England head coach Eddie Jonesto take part in a New Year training camp.

Harry Williams, Sam Simmonds, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade have all been named in a 34-man party that will come together in Brighton on January 1 for a two-day camp.

The camp will be used to begin preparations for England’s opening match of the NatWest 6 Nations against Italy on 4 February in Rome.

Bath prop Beno Obano (Bath Rugby) and Newcastle Falcons flanker Gary Graham receive their first call ups into the England squad.

Eddie Jones said: “This camp in Brighton is important for us to set the tone as a squad ahead of the Six Nations. We will need to improve if we are to hunt down our opponents and beat them. This tournament will be exciting and challenging, as we know we will play against some very strong teams.

“Brighton will provide a great base to begin our preparations with players coming away with a clear plan for our opening match of the campaign against Italy.”

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) will miss the camp for personal reasons.

An England squad for the Six Nations tournament will be announced on Thursday, 18 January before the squad departs for a week’s training camp in Portugal three days later. England have won the last two tournaments, including the Grand Slam in 2016.

England training squad for Brighton camp:

Backs

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

Forwards

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)