England A forced into fly-half switch ahead of Ireland date
Bath fly-half Orlando Bailey has been ruled out of England A’s encounter with Ireland A at Ashton Gate on Sunday.
Bailey picked up an injury in Bath’s 40-21 Premiership Rugby Cup defeat to Bristol Bears on Saturday and will remain with the club to continue his rehabilitation.
Leicester Tigers playmaker Jamie Shillcock, fresh from scoring 21 points to help his side to victory against Coventry, has been drafted into the England A squad in Bailey’s place.
Shillcock featured in both of England A’s matches in 2024, against Portugal and Australia A, scoring a try against Os Lobos.
Meanwhile, Bailey’s Bath teammates Guy Pepper and Mackenzie Graham have been called into the squad by head coach Lee Blackett alongside Northampton Saints backs Rafe Witheat and Billy Pascoe to help preparations for Sunday’s match.
England Men A wider squad to face Ireland A (current club and senior caps)
Forwards
Alfie Barbeary (Bath Rugby)
Phil Brantingham (Saracens)
Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Mackenzie Graham (Bath Rugby)
Luke Green (Northampton Saints)
Tarek Haffar (Northampton Saints)
Jack Kenningham (Harlequins)
George Kloska (Bristol Bears)
Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints)
Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby)
Hugh Tizard (Saracens)
Backs
Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
Will Butt (Bath Rugby)
Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
George Hendy (Northampton Saints)
Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Billy Pascoe (Northampton Saints)
Will Porter (Harlequins)
Jamie Shillcock (Leicester Tigers)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
Rafe Witheat (Northampton Saints)
Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)
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