England Senior & Saxons Elite Player Squads 2013
By RFU Press Office
January 10 2013
ENGLAND Head Coach Stuart Lancaster today announced the revised January 2013 Senior and England Saxons Elite Player Squads.
There are seven changes from the July 2012 Senior squad, with call-ups for Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (London Wasps), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), David Strettle (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby) and Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers). The requirement for an eight-man replacements’ bench during the RBS 6 Nations means that the Senior squad has been extended to 33 and Mako Vunipola (Saracens) moves from the Saxons as the additional player. There are seven changes to the Saxons squad with Elliott Daly (London Wasps), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Will Fraser (Saracens), Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), Joel Tomkins (Saracens) and Billy Vunipola (London Wasps) all making their first appearances this season. Billy Vunipola will train with the senior squad in Leeds (January 20-25) while Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) continues his return-to-play programme. England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “The fact that we have spent significant time deliberating over quite a few players shows how tough the competition is to get into this 65 and the strength in depth that is emerging. We have made some changes to both squads and we feel that reflects the players’ form during the first half of the season. There will undoubtedly be movement between the two squads as we go through the RBS 6 Nations and that was evident in the QBE Internationals, with players in form pushing through such as Freddie Burns, Joe Launchbury, Tom Youngs and Mako Vunipola. "This is a very important year for England, with the Six Nations and the Saxons games to look forward to so there are some great opportunities for the players to demonstrate their club form at international level. The summer tour to Argentina will also be a great chance for those players pushing for a place, especially with some of our Senior squad hopefully going with the Lions, and chances will undoubtedly arise as we hope to play two midweek games as well as the two Tests.” The Senior squad will attend a training camp at West Park Leeds RFC between Sunday, January 20 and Friday, January 25 before meeting up at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot on Sunday, January 27 to prepare for England’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, February 2 (4pm). The Saxons will meet up on Monday, January 21 at Surrey Sports Park ahead of their match against the 02 Ireland Wolfhounds in Galway on Friday, January 25 (7.35pm).
ENGLAND SENIOR ELITE PLAYER SQUAD (33) FORWARDS (18) BACKS (15) ENGLAND SAXONS ELITE PLAYER SQUAD (32) FORWARDS (17) BACKS (15) |
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Tries in successive matches against Italy and Wales from Viliami ‘Billy’ Vunipola helped England U18 to extend their victorious run to 19 international matches before the 23-17 defeat by hosts South Africa in the Four Team Tournament in July 2010. He was vice captain to Chris Walker on the tour and appeared in all three games.
Sydney-born Billy was brought into the England U20 squad on May 9 for the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa as a replacement for Matt Kvesic, who had undergone surgery on a shoulder injury. Billy went on to play in four matches in the tournament and is part of a distinguished Tongan rugby dynasty, his brother Mako being a former member of the England U20 squad.
Their father Fe’ao, a hooker won 32 caps for his country, figured in the 1995 and 1999 World Cups and played for Pontypool. He was head coach at Marlow, a South West One East club, before deciding to return home at the end of the past season.
Six of Billy’s uncles and his grandfather represented Tonga. The two brothers previously played alongside each other in the England U18 team and their careers have progressed from there.
Billy, like Mako, qualifies for England through residency and his favourite ground is Twickenham.. He said: “The atmosphere is crazy.” His maiden try for London Wasps was on his debut against Leeds Carnegie in April 2011 and he added a second against Saracens last February.
Educated at the Castle School, Bristol, he went on to Harrow to study Photography, Design Technology, Physical Education and Business with aspirations of becoming a world renowned photographer.
He played for Bristol in 2007-08 and has benefited from the England Under 18 coaching team of John Fletcher and Peter Walton.
Billy added: “Both have shown great belief and brought me through even though I thought I was just average. The players I most admire are those who are humble and hard working such as George Ford, our captain two years ago”
U20 International Record
2012 World Championship It, SA, I(R), A(R)
Kvesic reported to the camp in Leeds this evening as injury cover for Exeter Chiefs’ Tom Johnson (knee) while Botha will arrive tomorrow in place of Northampton Saints’ Calum Clark (shoulder). Johnson and Clark will remain at their clubs for treatment.
Monye will join the squad as cover while players competing in the weekend's Heineken Cup are assessed by the England medical team.
Jamie Gibson of London Irish replaces Kvesic in the Saxons squad for their games against 02 Ireland Wolfhounds in Galway on Friday, January 25 and Scotland A at Kingston Park, Newcastle seven days later.
Also included are Harlequins’ Rob Buchanan, Gloucester Rugby’s Nick Wood, Saracens' George Kruis, Leicester Tigers’ prop Kieran Brookes for the injured David Paice (London Irish), Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby), Tom Palmer (London Wasps) and Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks) respectively, while Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers) replaces Billy Vunipola (London Wasps) who is training with the Senior squad.
The Saxons meet at Surrey Sports Park tomorrow before flying to Galway on Thursday and Head Coach Jon Callard said: “Rather than take the whole squad into camp we have cut it down to really focus on this young and dynamic group who've been in good form this season and have got lots to offer England in the future. Both games provide us with a really tough test and will be a great way to measure their potential and progress.”
The Saxons side will be named at 9am on Thursday, January 24.
England Senior training squad (34)
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Vunipola (London Wasps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
England Saxons training squad (25)
Tom Biggs (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Leicester Tigers)
Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Will Fraser (Saracens)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
George Lowe (Harlequins)
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Joel Tomkins (Saracens)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
Thomas has been called up to the team’s training base at Pennyhill Park as temporary injury cover for Alex Corbisiero, who remains at London Irish for treatment on his knee.
Ugo Monye (Harlequins) will also train with the squad while Freddie Burns (knee) stays at Gloucester Rugby for treatment.
England Saxons will meet up in Newcastle tomorrow morning ahead of their match with Scotland A at Kingston Park on Friday, February 1 (8pm, live on SkySports 2 HD). Shaun Knight has returned to Gloucester Rugby for treatment on a knee injury.
England Senior training squad (33)
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Vunipola (London Wasps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
England Saxons training squad (24)
Tom Biggs (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Leicester Tigers)
Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Will Fraser (Saracens)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
George Lowe (Harlequins)
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Joel Tomkins (Saracens)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)