Scrum half Harry Randall has become one of the first players this summer to be dropped from England's training squad in preparation for the Rugby World Cup in September.
Randall, 25, was named in England head coach Steve Borthwick's first 28-man training squad last week, getting his first inclusion under the former Leicester Tigers boss having earned six caps during his predecessor Eddie Jones' tenure. However, today Borthwick has named a 38-man squad for the second-week camp in Brighton, adding in 15 players from beaten semi-finalists Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers now they have completed their mandatory rest period, players from champions Saracens and beaten finalists Sale Sharks will link up with the national team next week.
Selected from Borthwick’s former club Tigers are: props Dan Cole and Joe Heyes, lock George Martin, centre Guy Porter, full back Freddie Steward, scrum halves Jack van Poortvliet and Ben Youngs, and winger Anthony Watson. Coming in from Saints are: locks Courtney Lawes and David Ribbans, flanker Lewis Ludlam, centre Fraser Dingwall, winger Tommy Freeman, scrum-half Alex Mitchell and fly-half Fin Smith.
With three additional scrum halves coming into the squad to already join Harlequins’ Danny Care, Randall, and Bath club captain Ben Spencer have dropped out along with London Irish winger Ollie Hassell-Collins, who will join Leicester Tigers this summer.
Randall has already returned to Bristol Bears ' High Performance Centre in Failand to check in for the first day of his club's pre-season on Monday.
Meanwhile back in the national camp there is worrying news as Bath star centre Ollie Lawrence has picked up a knee injury in training. Lawrence, who was named the Premiership player of the season in 2022/23, has linked up with the squad to undergo treatment on his injury, along with Harlequins hooker Jack Walker who also suffered a calf injury last week.
Both players were hurt in England squad training last week and they are understood to each be facing a minimum of six weeks’ rehabilitation. England’s opening World Cup warm-up game is against Wales in Cardiff on August 5, while head coach Steve Borthwick is due to name his final 33-player squad for the tournament two days later.
Saracens number eight Billy Vunipola, Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum and Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie remain in camp to continue their rehabilitation from injury.
38-player training squad:
Forwards (20)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Ted Hill (Bath Rugby)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Zach Mercer (Montpellier Hérault Rugby)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Tom Pearson (London Irish)
Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs (18)
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
