Eddie Jones names 36-man England squad for October training camp

England head coach Eddie Jones has named a 36-man squad for his England Rugby October training camp ahead of the Autumn Nations Series – and both Sam Simmonds and Manu Tuilagi have made the cut.

Intriguingly, Exeter Chiefs No.8 Simmonds has been included in the three-day camp despite having signed to play for Montpellier in 2023.

While it is not his official Autumn Nations Series squad, it is a somewhat different squad from the one which travelled to Australia in July, with a number of key personnel returning to the ranks ahead of the November Test window.

Charlie Ewels, Nick Isiekwe and Sam Underhill are all not considered due to long-term injuries, leaving a number of spots in the pack up for grabs.

There are returns for Ben Youngs, Alex Mitchell, Tom Pearson and David Ribbans.

Northampton Saints’ Alex Coles and Saracens’ Hugh Tizard, both former England U20s players, have received their maiden England call-ups.

There is however no room for Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care, who was given a hail mary selection for tour of Australia in July. The veteran apparently hasn’t done enough to retain his spot, which has been ceded back to Leicester Tigers nine Youngs.

There is also no room for fellow Harlequins Joe Marchant, who has also been cut following the summer tour.

“With a year to go to the Rugby World Cup, this is a big opportunity for players to come in and impress,” said Jones. “We want them to show real energy and enthusiasm and that they want to be a part of this massive year.

“It doesn’t mean that those who have been left out won’t be considered for the Autumn Nations Series matches. We’ll be looking at club games, form and fitness and the door is left open for those players.

“We finished the Australia tour well. It was a fantastic experience, particularly for the younger players. We now have to start again, but we’ll build on what we’ve done there and continue that momentum.”

FORWARDS
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 41 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 39 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 69 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
Hugh Tizard (Saracens, uncapped)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 64 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 70 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
Jack Willis (Wasps, 4 caps)

BACKS
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 3 caps)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 97 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
Will Joseph (London Irish, 1 cap)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 42 caps)
Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 13 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 117 caps)

Unavailable for selection due to injury: Alfie Barbeary, Nic Dolly, Alex Dombrandt, Charlie Ewels, George Ford, Sam Jeffries, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Courtney Lawes, Sam Underhill, Anthony Watson.