London Irish teenager Henry Arundell named in England squad

Eddie Jones picks 36 man training squad ahead of next month’s Barbarians clash

Henry Arundell has earned a maiden England call-up. Photograph:  David Rogers/Getty Images
Henry Arundell has earned a maiden England call-up. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Henry Arundell has appeared in a senior England squad for the first time as Eddie Jones picks a 36-strong group with next month's Barbarians fixture in mind.

Arundell has set the Gallagher Premiership alight with his sensational running skills and the 19-year-old London Irish fullback has been tipped as a bolter to make the 2023 World Cup.

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola makes a surprise return and is joined in the group for the three-day training camp by Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson and Jack Willis, who all missed the Six Nations through injury.

A number of senior players, including Henry Slade, Elliot Daly, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler, have been omitted but are expected to be involved in the three-Test series against Australia in July.

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“We’re going to use this camp as an opportunity to prepare a base game for the Barbarians fixture and for a really important Australia tour,” Jones said.

“We’ll focus on how we want to play, how we want to be as a team off the field and continue to develop the squad cohesiveness and behaviours.

“It is also 16 months to the World Cup and every minute counts. We want a hard-working and enjoyable environment for the players and to make sure we are all on the same page. We are allowed a squad of 36 players, so it has been a balancing act.

“We want to take a look at some younger players and prepare a base camp for the Barbarians game, particularly as we will be without the Premiership finalists, and also give some senior players a rest as we get to a crucial part of the season.

“These players will still be in contention for the Australia tour.”

England 36-man training squad for three-day camp:

Forwards: A Barbeary (Wasps), J Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers), T Curry (Sale Sharks), N Dolly (Leicester Tigers), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), C Ewels (Bath Rugby), E Genge (Leicester Tigers), J Heyes (Leicester Tigers), M Itoje (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton Saints), L Ludlam (Northampton Saints), G McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons), T Pearson (London Irish), B Rodd (Sale Sharks), W Stuart (Bath Rugby), S Underhill (Bath Rugby), M Vunipola (Saracens), J Willis (Wasps).

Backs: H Arundell (London Irish), O Bailey (Bath Rugby), J Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), F Dingwall (Northampton Saints), O Farrell (Saracens), T Freeman (Northampton Saints), G Furbank (Northampton Saints), W Joseph (London Irish), L Lynagh (Harlequins), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints), H Randall (Bristol Bears), M Smith (Harlequins), F Steward (Leicester Tigers), M Tuilagi (Sale Sharks), J van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), A Watson (Bath Rugby).