England have handed a first call-up to South African-born centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship – but Bath trio Ollie Lawrence, Henry Arundell and Max Ojomoh have been left out of Steve Borthwick’s squad.
Bristol’s Janse van Rensburg appeared for South Africa at under-20 level in 2016 but will become eligible for England having served a five-year residency period in early July. He will not be available for their Nations Championship opener against the Springboks on 4 July, but could feature in games against Fiji and Argentina later in the month.
His inclusion comes at the expense of Lawrence, who started England’s Six Nations defeat to Ireland, and Ojomoh, with Seb Atkinson, Fraser Dingwall and Henry Slade preferred as specialist centre options alongside Janse van Rensburg.
The 29-year-old Bristol Bear is one of six uncapped inclusions within a training squad that assembled at the Pennyhill Park training base on Monday. The exciting teenage Saracens wing Noah Caluori also earns a call-up, along with talented Bath hooker Kepu Tuipulotu.
Young scrum halves Archie McParland (Northampton) and Charlie Bracken (Saracens) will press for a place at No 9, with tighthead prop Vilikesa Sela retaining his place having been in England’s Six Nations squad.
There are recalls, meanwhile, for Leicester hooker Jamie Blamire, Harlequins No 8 Alex Dombrandt and Leicester wing Adam Radwan, while lock George Martin’s return from injury is a significant boost after more than a year out of international action.
Sale hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will join up with the squad for rehabilitation, while Sam Underhill, Fin Baxter and Elliot Daly were among those not considered for selection due to injury.
An England XV are due to face an equivalent French side in Vannes on Friday 19 June to warm-up for their three Nations Championship fixtures.
A gruelling travel itinerary that sees England play in Johannesburg, at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and then in Santiago del Estero on successive Saturdays in July could see Borthwick consider resting some senior figures, or splitting his squad.
The England head coach is due to speak to the media on Tuesday for the first time since being given backing by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) despite overseeing a one-win Six Nations.
England training squad ahead of Nations Championship
Loosehead prop: Ellis Genge, Emmanuel Iyogun, Beno Obano
Hooker: Jamie George, Theo Dan, Jamie Blamire, Kepu Tuipulotu*
Tighthead prop: Joe Heyes, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Vilikesa Sela*
Lock: Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, George Martin, Alex Coles, Arthur Clark, Nick Isiekwe
Back row: Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt
Scrum half: Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet, Archie McParland*, Charlie Bracken*
Fly half: Fin Smith, George Ford, Marcus Smith
Centre: Seb Atkinson, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Slade, Tommy Freeman, Benhard Janse van Rensburg*
Back three: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tom Roebuck, George Furbank, Freddie Steward, Cadan Murley, Noah Caluori*, Adam Radwan
Rehabilitation: Luke Cowan-Dickie
Not considered for selection: Fin Baxter, Ben Curry, Elliot Daly, Trevor Davison, Greg Fisilau, Will Muir, Bevan Rodd, Sam Underhill
