TJ recalled by England

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs flanker Tom Johnson has been recalled back into Stuart Lancaster's England Elite squad for the forthcoming QBE Autumn internationals against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.

The back-row forward, who has won five caps for his country, has been in sparkling form for the Chiefs this term and his on-field displays have clearly been noted by Lancaster, who has also called up Joel Tomkins, Henry Trinder and Luther Burrell into the Senior EPS.

The players will assemble in Leeds on Monday, October 21 for a camp leading into the QBE internationals before returning to their Surrey training base at Pennyhill Park on Sunday, October 27 ahead of the game against the Wallabies at Twickenham Stadium on November 2.

Speaking at Lloyd’s of London, Lancaster said: “We have been looking forward to this QBE Internationals series ever since we got back from Argentina. As a coaching group we have watched a lot of rugby and we are pleased with the form of the squad. The camp is an important part of our preparation and we are looking forward to meeting up.

“Inevitably there have been some injuries and there is still a big European weekend ahead. But injures always create opportunities and we are pleased to call up Tom Johnson, Joel Tomkins, Henry Trinder and Luther Burrell into the Senior EPS, with Luther joining us as injury cover so it will be great for him to come in and put a marker down in what is going to be a competitive selection leading into the Australia game.

“We have three major Tests ahead of us and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

England Elite Player Squad for QBE Internationals

Forwards
David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs

Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
Joel Tomkins (Saracens)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)
Marland Yarde (London Irish)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)