Cipriani returns to England fold

Editor

Danny Cipriani is one of 20 players from the six Aviva Premiership clubs which have finished their seasons who will train with England.

Danny Cipriani is one of 20 players from the six Aviva Premiership clubs which have finished their seasons who will report for training with England at the Lensbury Club,Teddington on Sunday, May 18.

The Sale Sharks fly-half won the last of his England caps back in 2008.

The players from Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, London Irish, Newcastle Falcons, Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors will be in contention for selection for the tour to New Zealand next month and the match against the Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, June 1.

Further players will be added to the squad from the six remaining Aviva Premiership clubs Bath Rugby, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, London Wasps, Northampton Saints and Saracens following the conclusion of the Aviva Premiership semi-finals and final (May 17/18 and 31), the Amlin Challenge Cup final (May 23), Heineken Cup final (May 24) and Wasps' European Rugby Champions Cup play-off (May 18 and 24).

The final squads for the New Zealand tour and the Barbarians match will be announced at 12pm on Monday, May 26.

“The New Zealand tour and the game against the Barbarians give us a chance to look at a wide group of players, some of whom are well known to us from the Elite Player Squad, others who we will get to work with for the first time next week,” said England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

“That is an exciting challenge for us coaches and it's a great opportunity for those players to put a marker down for selection for the tour and the Barbarians game.”

The first group of players will fly to New Zealand on May 27 (arriving May 29) and the second group will fly on June 2 following the Aviva Premiership final and Barbarians game and join the squad in Auckland on June 4.

England training squad: Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Jonny May (Gloucester), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors), Dan Robson (Gloucester), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Marland Yarde (London Irish)