England squad: Maro Itoje returns as Steve Borthwick names three uncapped players to begin Nations Championship preparations
Maro Itoje and Kepu Tuipulotu have been named in the England squad.
England head coach Steve Borthwick has named an extended 36-man squad to begin preparations for the Nations Championship, with three uncapped players included.
Captain Maro Itoje returns to the fold after an extended break over the summer, as England prepare to face Australia, Japan and the All Blacks across the next month. They will also play on the finals weekend, but their placing is yet to be confirmed.
England come into November’s leg off the back of two wins from three Tests back in July.
Borthwick names uncapped trio in Nations Championship group
The headline calls come in the form of the uncapped trio, with Greg Fisilau, Kepu Tuipulotu and Archie McParland included in the wider training group.
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However, none of them are strangers to the senior squad, with Fisilau touring with England back in July and both Tuipulotu and McParland spending time in camp ahead of the Tests. All three have also featured for England A in recent years.
Elsewhere, Borthwick has also recalled a number of players into his extended squad, namely Joe Marchant who earns his first call-up after returning to the PREM this off-season from France.
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Will Joseph, Fraser Dingwall and Tom Pearson all have their recent form rewarded with call-ups to the squad, while Fin Baxter and Will Stuart mark their returns from injury with selection.
The head coach has also included several of his key generals in the group, with the likes of Itoje, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, George Ford, Freddie Steward and Fin and Marcus Smith all named.
Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Guy Pepper will also head into camp to continue their rehabilitation, while Chandler Cunningham-South and Benhard Janse van Rensburg miss out through injury.
England squad in full
Forwards: Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Emmanuel Iyogun, George Martin, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart, Kepu Tuipulotu
Backs: Noah Caluori, Fraser Dingwall, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Will Joseph, Joe Marchant, Archie McParland, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet
