Wing Ollie Hassell-Collins has been axed from England’s World Cup training squad as Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers players come back into the fold. Northampton and Leicester both lost the Premiership semi-finals in mid-May and the return of their players has led to a shake-up in an expanded 38-man England squad.
Ad Hassell-Collins, who made his debut in the Six Nations in February and featured in two of England's five games, has made way alongside scrum-halves Ben Spencer and Harry Randall. Champions CupWillis signs fresh Toulouse deal to cast doubt on England career12/04/2023 AT 16:17 Tigers' pair Ben Youngs and Jack van Poortvliet have both been included, as has Saints' Alex Mitchell.
It is the second of three squads to be selected by head coach Steve Borthwick before England embark on their four-Test summer series against Wales in August. Borthwick's World Cup squad will be announced on August 7, just over a month before the tournament gets underway on September 8.
There are likely to be further changes when players from Saracens and Sale Sharks — who contested the Premiership final on May 27 — become available. Ollie Lawrence and Jack Walker will remain with the squad despite nursing injuries from training last week, while Billy Vunipola, Ollie Chessum and Luke Cowan-Dickie also progress with their respective recoveries.
Full squad Forwards: Jamie Blamire, Dan Cole, Alex Dombrandt, Tom Dunn, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, George Martin, Zach Mercer, Beno Obano, Tom Pearson, Val Rapava-Ruskin, David Ribbans, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill. Backs: Henry Arundell, Danny Care, Joe Cokanasiga, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Will Joseph, Joe
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