England’s summer preparations for this year’s Rugby World Cup have suffered a setback after the decision of Sam Simmonds to make himself unavailable for the tournament. The talented Montpellier-bound No 8 has told the head coach, Steve Borthwick, he does not wish to be considered for selection, increasing the chances of Zach Mercer featuring in England’s eventual squad.
Simmonds performed outstandingly for Exeter in the later stages of this year’s Champions Cup but has struggled for recognition at Test level since Borthwick succeeded Eddie Jones late last year. Balancing the intense demands of World Cup training with relocating his family from Exeter to the south of France was never going to be easy and the 28-year-old’s switch to the Top 14 is already set to rule him out of Test contention next season.
It clears the way for Mercer, who has signed for Gloucester from Montpellier having been the Top 14’s player of the year last season, to stake a strong claim for the No 8 jersey with Billy Vunipola still recovering from injury. Tom Willis, who has been playing for Bordeaux since Wasps’ financial collapse, could yet emerge as another World Cup contender alongside Harlequins’ Alex Dombrandt.
The 28-strong training squad for the first of several preparatory camps in Bagshot this week does not include players from Leicester, Northampton, Sale or Saracens but does feature some interesting names, including the recalled Joe Marler, Danny Care, Ben Spencer and Jonny May and the Gloucester loosehead prop Val Rapava-Ruskin. The list contains just one lock, however, underlining the unavailability of a number of World Cup probables.
Joe Launchbury has not been considered as he is nursing a minor injury but the list features a quartet of players from London Irish, suspended from the Gallagher Premiership last week. Tom Pearson, Henry Arundell, Will Joseph and the Leicester-bound Ollie Hassell-Collins have had to deal with plenty of uncertainty in recent weeks, culminating with the Exiles entering administration.
Forwards Jamie Blamire (Newcastle), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins) , Tom Dunn (Bath), Charlie Ewels (Bath) , Ellis Genge (Bristol), Ted Hill (Bath), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Zach Mercer (Montpellier Hérault), Beno Obano (Bath), Tom Pearson (London Irish), Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol), Will Stuart (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath), Jack Walker (Harlequins).
Backs Henry Arundell (London Irish), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath), Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish), Will Joseph (London Irish), Ollie Lawrence (Bath), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol), Henry Slade (Exeter), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath).
Vunipola, Ollie Chessum and Luke Cowan-Dickie will attend the camp to continue their injury rehabilitation as England look ahead to their opening World Cup warm-up fixture against Wales on 5 August.
“We are excited to get into camp and begin the first phase of our preparations,” said Borthwick. “The World Cup is full of top-quality teams and high-quality players and we’re relishing the challenge in front of us. We have lots to get through before our first Summer Series fixture in August against Wales in Cardiff, so the hard work starts now.”
Borthwick will announce his 33-player squad for the World Cup on 7 August.
