SQUAD NEWS: Marler out of retirement and into England World Cup training group

Thu, Jul 4, 2019, 9:55 PM
AAP
by AAP
Tom Carter joins The Rugby Nation show for episode 15, hosted by Sean Maloney with Iain Payten on the panel.

Joe Marler has come out of retirement to be named in England's Rugby World Cup training squad, while Danny Cipriani has also been included in the 35-man roster.

Harlequins prop Marler last featured for England against South Africa on June 23, 2018 before retiring due to personal reasons, but has now reversed that decision.

Gloucester's New Zealand-born Willi Heinz has won the battle for inclusion at halfback, with Saracens' Ben Spencer also included, but Wasps' Dan Robson has missed out.

England's most-capped fullback Mike Brown has been omitted, while Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler is back in the squad after a hamstring scare.

"I saw Joe (Marler) during the Barbarians' week and he indicated that he had a desire to come back," said head coach Eddie Jones.

Joe Marler. Photo: Getty Images"We have since had a couple of chats and we have given him the opportunity to do that. Now it is up to him to show us what he has got.

"We can't wait to have the full squad in place and to have players competing for those (final World Cup) 31 places.

"It is a process of building the team up, building the cohesion, the tactical understanding of the team and our adaptability. We will need to get those things right to win the World Cup, and that is our aim."

England must submit their final 31-man World Cup squad on September 2, before kicking off their tournament against Tonga in Sapporo on September 22.

England now have their full contingent assembled however, and will ramp up their preparations.

Jones' men face Wales twice, Ireland and Italy in four warm-up matches in August and September, before jetting out to Japan.

Gloucester five-eighth Cipriani won the Premiership player of the year and players' player of the year awards in a sterling first campaign with the club - the 31-year-old now has the chance to push for a final World Cup place.

Former captain and hooker Dylan Hartley's continued absence due to knee injuries leaves the former captain unlikely to make the tournament.

England play their first World Cup match against Tonga on Sunday September 22, kicking off at 8:15pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

SQUAD

England Rugby World Cup training squad

Forwards

Dan Cole (Leicester), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), Tom Curry (Sale), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Ellis Genge (Leicester), Jamie George (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Moon (Exeter), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Jack Singleton (Saracens), Sam Underhill (Bath), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter), Mark Wilson (Sale)

Backs

Danny Cipriani (Gloucester),  Joe Cokanasiga (Bath), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester), Piers Francis (Northampton) Willi Heinz (Gloucester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jonny May (Leicester), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ben Spencer (Saracens), Ben Te'o (unattached), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

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