England make call-up to training camp as Marler withdraws for 'personal reasons'

Harlequins prop Joe Marler has withdrawn from the England training squad that is meeting in Bristol.

A statement from the RFU said his absence was due to “personal reasons”.

29-year-old Exeter prop Ben Moon is selected in his place.

Eddie Jones has selected 36 players to assemble for England’s latest training camp (Sunday 23 September until Tuesday 25 September) with Danny Cipriani a shock omission, with George Ford and Owen Farrell the 10 options named in the squad.

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Watch: Jones explains why he left out Cipriani

Leicester Tigers’ centre Manu Tuilagi is named in the training squad for the first time in over a year having last played for England during the 2016 Six Nations.

Danny Care (Harlequins), George Kruis (Saracens), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) and Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) all return to the squad for the first time this season.

Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks) is included having last played international rugby in 2014, while uncapped wing duo Nathan Earle (Harlequins) and Joe Cokanasiga (Bath) are also called up.

Eddie Jones said: “The training camp in Bristol is our last opportunity to get the squad together before the Quilter Internationals so it is vital we put down some parameters, particularly with John Mitchell coming in as defence coach.

“We’ll implement a slightly different defence philosophy building on the great work Paul Gustard has done to keep advancing our defence. It’s a great opportunity for the players to work with John and for the team to keep evolving.

It’s a chance to get the players thinking about England and the way we want to play for England and the way we want to beat South Africa. These players have the opportunity to press their chances for selection ahead of the first Test so they will have to be enthusiastic and ready to give their best.”

Ahead of the November Internationals an England squad will be named on 18 October before they fly to Portugal on 24 October to begin their final preparations for the four-Test series.

England will play South Africa (3 November), New Zealand (10 November), Japan (17 November) and Australia (24 November) at Twickenham Stadium.

Earlier this week, Mitchell was confirmed as England’s new defence coach until the end of the Rugby World Cup 2019 and Scott Wisemantel will continue as attack coach for the November Internationals.

Updated England training squad:

Forwards (20)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs)
Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby)
Michael Rhodes (Saracens)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs (16)
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Nathan Earle (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Dan Robson (Wasps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)