Alex Dombrandt gets England call, as Robshaw and Hughes miss out
TEDDINGTON, ENGLAND - MAY 31: Alex Dombrandt of England in action during the England Media Access at The Lensbury on May 31, 2019 in Teddington, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
England head coach Eddie Jones has announced a 29-man training squad to meet at Pennyhill Park next week, with Harlequins back row Alex Dombrandt included.
12 months on from playing for Cardiff Met University, Dombrandt is one of four players who have received their first call up to the senior England side.
Northampton Saints back row Lewis Ludlam, Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie and Gloucester prop Val Rapava Ruskin will all be assessed by Jones over the course of the four-day camp.
In the first instance of Jones showing his hand for who could be in and who could be out of his World Cup plans, there are a number of notable omissions including Dombrandt’s teammates at Quins, Chris Robshaw and Danny Care, as well as captain Dylan Hartley.
A bigger emphasis on who will be going to the World Cup will be placed on who Jones names in his official Rugby World Cup training squad on 4 July, prior to warm-up matches against Wales, Ireland and Italy.
Jones commented: “The first two England training camps are designed to improve individual players’ fundamentals to allow them to compete for a place in the Rugby World Cup squad.”
The front row remains and area of concern for the Australia with Mako Vunipola undergoing surgery on the groin injury he sustained during the Premiership final.
Retired loosehead prop Joe Marler has been called upon by Lawrence Dallaglio to make himself available for selection again, but Jones has included Ellis Genge and Val Rapava Ruskin.
Bath duo Tom Dunn and Ruaridh McConnochie will also partake in training sessions, while Wasps Dan Robson is the second scrum-half named to England regular Ben Youngs.
England 29-man training squad for 23-27 June camp:
Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Val Rapava Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Backs: Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby), Dan Robson (Wasps), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
