Chiefs duo to face Wales

By Mark Stevens

England head coach Stuart Lancaster says he is looking forward to what Exeter Chiefs star Tom Johnson can bring to his team.

For the first time in the history of Exeter Rugby Club, two of their players will line-up in an England match-day squad after back-row forward Johnson joined club-mate Jack Nowell in Lancaster's 23-man squad for Sunday's Six Nations clash with Wales at Twickenham.

Having trained throughout the current Six Nations campaign with England, 31-year-old Johnson has been released on each occasion ahead of the games with France, Scotland and Ireland.

However, Billy Vunipola's injury sustained last time out in the home win over Ireland has meant Johnson - who has five caps to his name - has been called up by Lancaster to bolster his side's back-row options.

Commenting at today's squad announcement, Lancaster said: “The performance against Ireland has given us a lot of confidence going into this game against a high quality Welsh team and we feel it’s right to give the bulk of that 23 another opportunity. Tom Johnson has trained with us throughout and we are looking forward to his contribution.

“There is a lot of competition for places and to have Marland (Yarde) and Manu (Tuilagi) back training with us this week has been great. With Leicester and Wasps not involved in the LV= Cup semi-finals this weekend we are able to keep Matt (Mullan) to provide cover in the front row and also to give Manu more time to get up to speed with the team."

England squad to face Wales in the Six Nations

Forwards (13)

David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs (10)

Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)

Matt Mullan (London Wasps) and Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) will also return to camp to train with the match day 23.

Returning to Aviva Premiership clubs

Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)