9 May 2016

NZer named in England training camp squad

8:51 am on 9 May 2016

With next month's tour of Australia on the horizon, the England rugby coach Eddie Jones has named eight uncapped players among a 26-man squad for a three-day training camp.

Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones Photo: Photosport

The uncapped group includes Northampton's New Zealand-born loose forward Teimana Harrison, Sale Sharks back Mike Haley, London Irish winger Alex Lewington and Bath lock Charlie Ewels.

New Zealand born England captain Dylan Hartley is also part of the squad - as is Sale first-five Danny Cipriani - as Jones prepares for a Twickenham clash against Wales on May 29, followed by next month's three-Test Australia tour.

The camp takes place from May 17-19, with training at Brighton College.

No players involved in the English Premiership play-offs, which will be contested by Saracens, Leicester, Exeter and Wasps, were considered.

"The Brighton training camp is a good opportunity for England to get together and train hard ahead of the Wales game and summer tour," Jones said.

"While we will be without those players involved in the Premiership semi-finals, it's crucial that we spend as much time together as possible.

"We have an important game at Twickenham at the end of the month, and then a challenging tour to Australia. It's a challenge that really excites us, and we are looking forward to starting our preparation.

"There's lots of hard work to be done if we are going to play with the intensity needed to beat southern hemisphere teams.

"We know the speed of the game in Australia will be considerably higher than the RBS Six Nations, so this short camp, as well as the preparation time ahead of Wales, is going to be vital to our progression.

-PA