Owen Farrell will captain England; Eddie Jones calls up eight uncapped players; Cipriani has not played for country since 2015
Friday 11 May 2018 07:00, UK
Danny Cipriani has been recalled by England for next month's three-Test tour of South Africa while Billy Vunipola also returns.
Cipriani won the last of his 14 caps in the World Cup warm-up loss to France in August 2015 but his good form for Wasps has seen him selected by head coach Eddie Jones.
Jones has named eight uncapped players in his 34-man squad, including Hurricanes captain Brad Shields after New Zealand Rugby granted his release.
Saracens trio Ben Earl, Nathan Earle and Ben Spencer, Wasps pair Dan Robson and Jack Willis, Exeter lock Jonny Hill and Sale teenager Cameron Redpath are also included.
Vunipola could make his first England appearance since the 2017 Six Nations after returning from injury and his Saracens team-mate Owen Farrell has been named captain in the absence of Dylan Hartley, who remains sidelined due to concussion.
Danny Care, Dan Cole, James Haskell and Richard Wigglesworth have been rested for the tour.
"Our tour to South Africa will be the most exciting challenge for us as a group since 2016," said Jones, who has added Scott Wisemantel to his coaching team as an attack consultant.
"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 named a 31-man squad for the Quilter Cup match against the Barbarians on May 27 before heading to South Africa, with all three internationals live on Sky Sports Action.
England squad for South Africa Tour
Backs: Mike Brown, Danny Cipriani, Elliot Daly, Nathan Earle, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Alex Lozowski, Jonny May, Cameron Redpath, Dan Robson, Henry Slade, Denny Solomona, Ben Spencer, Ben Te'o, Ben Youngs.
Forwards: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Jonny Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw, Brad Shields, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Harry Williams, Jack Willis, Mark Wilson.
England training squad, Brighton (week commencing May 14)
Backs: Mike Brown, Joe Cokanasiga, George Ford, Piers Francis, Ollie Lawrence, Ben Loader, Jonny May, Cameron Redpath, Marcus Smith, Denny Solomona, Ben Te'o, Ben Vellacott, Jason Woodward, Ben Youngs.
Forwards: Josh Beaumont, Tom Curry, Tom Ellis, Ellis Genge, Teimana Harrison, Paul Hill, George McGuigan, Josh McNally, Joe Marler, Zach Mercer, Beno Obano, Chris Robshaw, Jono Ross, Nick Schonert, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Elliott Stooke.
