News

Mark Cueto

Johnson picks Sale Sharks trio for England Summer tour

Tuesday, May 19th 2009

England Team Manager, Martin Johnson has announced a strong 34 man squad for England’s 2009 summer tour, which includes matches against the Barbarians at Twickenham stadium on May 30 (kick off 4.15pm), Argentina at Old Trafford June 6 (kick off 4.00pm) and a return match with The Puma's in Salta on June 13.

Sale Sharks trio, Mathew Tait, Mark Cueto and Richard Wigglesworth all make the England summer tour squad with Dean Schofield and Chris Jones picked for the England Saxons Churchill Cup squad.

The three game series sees the return of RWC winners Steve Thompson (CA Brive) and Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers) and six uncapped players, David Wilson and Tom May from Newcastle Falcons, Jordan Turner-Hall Harlequins and Chris Robshaw, Harlequins, Sam Vesty (Leicester Tigers) and Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby).

The England summer tour squad will be captained by Carlisle born Steve Borthwick (Saracens).

England Team Manager Martin Johnson said “This is a very strong squad full of a mixture of experience and young talent. I’m sure that any of the uncapped players will take the step up from the Saxons to the senior test arena if they are given the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to all the games and the three day training camp this week, which will give us further invaluable time with the squad.”

Speaking about England's match against Argentina on June 6 at Old Trafford Johnson said "The England squad are all looking forward to the chance of playing at Old Trafford. I have very special memories of the last time England played there in 1997 against New Zealand and I know that this squad, like all players, want the experience of testing themselves and playing at different stadia around the world for the first time. Old Trafford and Salta a week later in Argentina gives them a great opportunity to do that.

"I hope as many fans as possible turn up for the game at Old Trafford. Argentina are the home side but I hope England can continue the momentum of the back to back wins we had in the last two games of the 6 Nations and that we can give our fans a good send off before flying to Argentina on June 7 for the second test against the Puma's."
Also confirmed today was the 26 man England Saxons squad who will be defending the Churchill Cup in Denver, Colorado. It sees the return of Chris Jones, part of last year's squad that lifted the title and Dean Schofield, who last played for the Saxons in the 2006 Six Nations match against Ireland, before making his test debut against South Africa in the summer of 2007.

ENGLAND SUMMER TOUR SQUAD

FORWARDS

Steffon Armitage (London Irish)

Steve Borthwick (Saracens) CAPTAIN

George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)

Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)

Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)

Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)

Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)

James Haskell (London Wasps)

Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers)

Nick Kennedy (London Irish)

Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)

Tim Payne (London Wasps)

Tom Rees (London Wasps)

*Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Steve Thompson (CA Brive)

Julian White (Leicester Tigers)

*David Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

*Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)



BACKS

Delon Armitage (London Irish)

Danny Care (Harlequins

Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)

Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)

Andy Goode (CA Brive)

*Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)

Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)

Paul Hodgson (London Irish)

*Tom May (Newcastle Falcons)

Olly Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)

Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)

David Strettle (Harlequins)

Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)

*Sam Vesty (Leicester Tigers)

Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)

*Denotes uncapped player

Please note all players clubs as stated for the 2008/09 season.

ENGLAND SAXONS CHURCHILL CUP SQUAD

FORWARDS
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)

Alex Corbiserio (London Irish)

Phil Dowson (Newcastle Falcons)

David Flatman (Bath Rugby)

Tom Guest (Harlequins)

Stuart Hooper (Bath Rugby)

Chris Jones (Sale Sharks)

Tom Mercey (Saracens)

Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby)

Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks)

Peter Short (Bath Rugby)

Joe Ward (London Wasps)

Rob Webber (London Wasps)

Ben Woods (Leicester Tigers)



BACKS
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)

Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)

Brad Barritt (Saracens)

Noah Cato (Saracens)

Danny Cipriani (London Wasps)

Shane Geraghty (London Irish)

Alex Goode (Saracens)

Stephen Myler Northampton Saints)

Joe Simpson (London Wasps)

Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers)

Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps)

Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)