Hill named in England tour squad

By Mark Stevens
10/5/18

Exeter lock Jonny Hill is one of five Chiefs players named by England head coach Eddie Jones in his 34-man squad to tour South Africa for a three-Test series in June.

Hill is among seven new players for the tour including Ben Earl (Saracens), Dan Robson (Wasps), Brad Shields (Hurricanes/Wasps), Ben Spencer (Saracens), Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks) and Jack Willis (Wasps).

Danny Cipriani (Wasps) makes a return to the England setup having last played for his country in 2015. Billy Vunipola (Saracens) is recalled after recovering from injury having last played for England in the 2017 Six Nations. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) - a year after last featuring for England in the two Test series in Argentina - is also included.

Also included in the travelling ranks will be Hill’s Exeter team-mates Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Simmonds, Henry Slade and Harry Williams.There is, however, no place for either Don Armand or Alec Hepburn, both of whom featured in this year’s Six Nations Championship.

Cornishman Jack Nowell has not been considered for selection, along with a number of other senior players, including Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) due to concussion. In Hartley’s absence, Owen Farrell (Saracens) will be captain for the tour.

England has only won 23 percent of their matches against the Springboks in South Africa with the last win coming in Bloemfontein back in 2000.

Eddie Jones said: “Our tour to South Africa will be the most exciting challenge for us as a group since 2016. We have an opportunity to create some history next month and win the Test series, something no England side has done before.

“There are a number of players out injured or not selected so it provides a big opportunity for others.

“With three weeks to prepare for the first Test in Johannesburg I am expecting players to come into camp with the right mind-set and we will be looking for them to break the mould in terms of being more assertive and on the front foot in everything we do.

“We will need to be physically aggressive and tactically smart against the Springboks who we know will be combative and reinvigorated by their new coaching setup.”

Jones has also confirmed a 31-man squad which will train in Brighton next week ahead of the tour and England’s Quilter Cup match against the Barbarians on Sunday 27 May at Twickenham Stadium (KO 3pm).

Following the conclusion of the Premiership semi finals next weekend a final training squad will be confirmed to prepare for the Barbarians match.

England will play South Africa in three Tests in Johannesburg (9 June), Bloemfontein (16 June) and Cape Town (23 June). All matches kick off at 1705 local time (1605 BST).

Scott Wisemantel will join Jones’ coaching staff for the tour to South Africa as an attack consultant. The 48-year-old Australian was recently backs coach for Top 14 club Montpellier working with Jake White.

Tickets for the Quilter Cup start at £25 for adults, £10 for children and are available atwww.englandrugby.com/tickets

England squad for South Africa Tour

Backs

Full backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Elliot Daly (Wasps)

Nathan Earle (Saracens) *

Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)

Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)

Inside backs

Danny Cipriani (Wasps)

Owen Farrell (Saracens)

George Ford (Leicester Tigers)

Alex Lozowski (Saracens)

Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks) *

Dan Robson (Wasps) *

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)

Ben Spencer (Saracens) *

Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards

Back five

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

Ben Earl (Saracens) *

Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs) *

Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)

Maro Itoje (Saracens)

Joe Launchbury (Wasps)

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Brad Shields (Hurricanes/Wasps) *

Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Jack Willis (Wasps) *

Mark Wilson (Newcastle)

Front row

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)

Jamie George (Saracens)

Joe Marler (Harlequins)

Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

Uncapped *

Not considered for selection

Backs

Danny Care (Harlequins)

Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)

Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints)

Joe Marchant (Harlequins)

Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)

Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)

Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)

Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)

Forwards

Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)

Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)

Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)

Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)

James Haskell (Wasps)

Nathan Hughes (Wasps)

George Kruis (Saracens)

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors)

Sam Underhill (Wasps)

England training squad, Brighton (week commencing 14 May)

Backs

Full backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish) *

Ben Loader (London Irish)*

Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)

Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)

Jason Woodward (Gloucester Rugby)*

Inside backs

George Ford (Leicester Tigers)

Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)

Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors) *

Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks) *

Marcus Smith (Harlequins) *

Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)

Ben Vellacot (Gloucester Rugby) *

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards

Back five

Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks) *

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby) *

Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints)

Josh McNally (London Irish)*

Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Jono Ross (Sale Sharks)*

Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby) *

Front row

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)

Paul Hill (Northampton Saints)

Joe Marler (Harlequins)

George McGuigan (Leicester Tigers)*

Beno Obano (Bath Rugby) *

Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors) *

Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors) *