Chiefs duo to face All Blacks

 

 

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs duo Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Johnson have both been named in the 30-man Enghland Squad for the four-match tour of New Zealand next month

Stuart Lancaster's side will fly to Auckland tomorrow and be available for the 1st Test at Eden Park on Saturday, June 7.

It will mark a first-ever senior call-up for Cornish hooker Cowan-Dickie, who was part of England's Junior World Championship squad last summer alongside club-mates Jack Nowell, Sam Hill, Henry Slade and Joel Conlon.

Johnson, meanwhile, retains his place within Lancaster's plan having featured in the final two games of England's Six Nations campaign this season againsy Wales and Italy.

Hooker Cowan-Dickie is one of seven uncapped players who will make the trip to face the world champions.

A further group will leave on Monday, June 2 following the Aviva Premiership final between Saracens and Northampton Saints (May 31) and the England XV v Barbarians match at Twickenham Stadium (June 1). These players will be named on the morning of Monday, June 2 (BST) following an assessment of both games.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We are excited about the squad we are taking to New Zealand and, while there continues to be challenges in selection, we will be well and truly ready for the 1st Test. It has a been good few days training and great to be able to work with a larger group of players in the lead up to the Barbarians game and the tour.

“With the Barbarians game and the Aviva Premiership final to come we will make our final selection once we know the availability of all players. This group will fly out on the Monday following the Barbarians game.

“As is often the case there are some players unavailable through injury and it is a shame that recently both George Ford (Bath Rugby) and Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers) have had to withdraw due to shoulder and knee injuries sustained towards the end of the season

“Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby) is being treated for a hamstring injury and will continue his recovery in England before a final decision is made on whether he will join us in New Zealand on the Monday flight post Aviva final and Barbarians game.”

Meanwhile, Hill, Slade and Dave Ewers have all been included in the England squad to face a star-studded Barbarians line-up at Twickenham this Sunday

England squad flying to New Zealand on May 27 (arrive May 29)

Loose-head props

Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (London Wasps)

Tight-head props

Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)

Hookers

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Dave Ward (Harlequins)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)

Locks

Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)

Back rows

James Haskell (London Wasps)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Scrum halves

Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Fly halves

Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)

Centres

Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)

Back threes

Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
Marland Yarde (London Irish)

England squad for Barbarians game

Loose-head props

Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)

Tight-head props

Will Collier (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinkler (Harlequins)

Hookers

Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks)

Locks

Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Matthews (Harlequins)
Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks)

Back rows

Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Gibson (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Wallace (Harlequins)

Scrum halves

Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)

Fly half

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)


Centres

Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)

Back threes

Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
Rob Miller (Sale Sharks)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)

England New Zealand tour (live on SkySports HD, all games 1935 NZST/0835 BST)

Saturday, June 7: 1st Test – Eden Park, Auckland

Saturday, June 14: 2nd Test – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Tuesday, June 17: Crusaders – AMI (Addington) Stadium, Christchurch

Saturday, June 21: 3rd Test – Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
England XV v Barbarians

Sunday, June 1: Twickenham Stadium, 3pm (live on SkySports HD)