England announce Brighton training camp squad

Manu Tuilagi has been left out of an England training squad for the Six Nations as he makes his latest comeback from injury.

Tuilagi has not played for England since March of last year and has been hampered by a number of fitness problems.

The centre recently made his Leicester Tigers return from knee surgery and claimed that his issues are over following a visit to a witch doctor in Samoa, the country of his birth.

But he does not yet appear to be in England coach Eddie Jones’ plans, though Billy Vunipola and James Haskell have been recalled to the 34-man party.

Saracens number eight Vunipola missed the November internationals with a knee injury and Wasps flanker Haskell was left out of Jones’ squad for those Tests.

34 players will come together in Brighton on January 1 for a two-day camp.

The camp will be used to begin preparations for England’s opening match of the NatWest 6 Nations against Italy on 4 February in Rome.

23 year-old prop Beno Obano (Bath Rugby) and Newcastle Falcon’s openside flanker Gary Graham receive their first call ups into the England squad.

Eddie Jones said: “This camp in Brighton is important for us to set the tone as a squad ahead of the Six Nations. We will need to improve if we are to hunt down our opponents and beat them. This tournament will be exciting and challenging, as we know we will play against some very strong teams.

“Brighton will provide a great base to begin our preparations with players coming away with a clear plan for our opening match of the campaign against Italy.”

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) will miss the camp for personal reasons.

An England squad for the Six Nations tournament will be announced on Thursday 18 January before the squad departs for a week’s training camp in Portugal three days later. England has won the last two tournaments including the Grand Slam in 2016.

England training squad for Brighton camp:

Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Nathan Earle (Saracens)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins) *
Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

*Apprentice players