Flutey earns England call

New Zealand-born centre Riki Flutey has been included in a 32-man England elite squd for the coming season.

New Zealand-born centre named in elite squad

New Zealand-born centre Riki Flutey has been included in a 32-man England elite squad for the coming season. The 25-year-old former Maori player doesn't qualify for England under the residency ruling until September but new manager Martin Johnson has fast-track him to the set-up. Flutey was named the players' player of the year last season after playing a key role in seeing Wasps to the Guinness Premiership play-off title. There are also call ups for uncapped Nick Kennedy, Jordan Crane and Dylan Hartley, but Mike Tindall, Nick Easter, Dave Strettle and Ben Kay are dropped to the Saxons squad. Injured fly-half Danny Cipriani is also named in the Saxons, although he is not expected to be back in action until November following his serious ankle injury. Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson is omitted completely from both squads, meaning that Jonny Wilkinson is the only recognised fly-half in the senior set-up - although both Toby Flood and Olly Barkley can fill in at No.10. Johnson has also handed a recall to World Cup-winner Josh Lewsey, while Harry Ellis and Lewis Moody return after long-term injuries. England's 32-man elite squad - Forwards: S Borthwick (Saracens), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), D Hartley Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), T Palmer (Wasps), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (London Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps).
Backs: O Barkley (Gloucester), D Care (Harlequins), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), R Flutey (Wasps), S Geraghty (London Irish), D Hipkiss (Leicester), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), P Richards (London Irish), P Sackey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tait (Sale), T Varndell (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle). England Saxons - Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), R Blaze (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), J Forster (Gloucester), T Guest (Harlequins), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale Sharks), B Kay (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), D Paice (London Irish), G Skivington (Wasps), A Titterrell (Gloucester), J Ward (Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle), N Wood (Gloucester), J Worsley (Wasps).
Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), A Allen (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), M Brown (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Gloucester), U Monye (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), D Waldouck (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)