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The 16 uncapped players named in the England training squad
By
Stefan Frost
Eddie Jones has named 16 uncapped players in the England training squad ahead of the summer tour to Australia. Headlines will focus on the return of Jonny May and Jack Nowell to the 35-man squad, but equal attention should be paid to the fresh faces vying for an international debut.
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Some of these players have been picked for training camps before, while others are getting their first taste of England training regimes under the tutelage of Jones.
The absence of stars from Premiership semi-finalists Leicester, Saracens, Harlequins and Northampton has given the likes of Biyi Alo, Charlie Atkinson, Sam Jeffries and Henry Arundell a chance to shine.
Below RugbyPass takes a look at each of these uncapped players, who are dreaming of making it to England’s opening test in Perth on Saturday 2 July.
Will Goodrick-Clarke (London Irish)
Will Goodrick-Clarke joined London Irish from Championship side Richmond in 2019. A string of impressive performances helped the prop earn a new contract with the Exiles and led to an England callup arising at around the same time.
Biyi Alo (Wasps)
After coming through the ranks of the Saracens academy, Biyi Alo made his way into the England Under-20s set up. Since then, the tighthead prop has played in France and the Championship and more recently found form after joining Wasps in the topflight.
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Alfie Barbeary (Wasps)
Alfie Barbeary has been part of the Wasps senior team since 2018, starting out as a hooker before moving into the back row. Barbeary’s dominance over the ball has impressed Jones, who first called up the youngster to the senior England squad for the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup final.
Freddie Clarke (Gloucester Rugby)
Before Freddie Clarke joined Gloucester, he was called up to the England Sevens squad in 2014. Now aged 29, Clarke has slowly asserted himself as a starting lock or flanker for the Cherry and Whites, and has got an international nod for his efforts.
Sam Jeffries (Bristol Bears)
Sam Jeffries joined the Bears from Bristol University in 2016 and helped his team secure promotion in that same season. The back rower then spent 18-months away from rugby, working as a professional development manager, but came back and has an England callup to justify his return.
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George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons)
George McGuigan has played for the Ireland Under-20s and the England Saxons and has already come close to getting his maiden senior England cap. The hooker has enjoyed a stirring season with the Newcastle Falcons, scoring 15 Premiership tries – the second highest total in the league.
Tom Pearson (London Irish)
Tom Pearson joined the London Irish senior academy in 2021, right after leaving Cardiff Met University. The back rower made the BUCS Super Rugby team of the season and a year later was invited to train with England during the 2022 Six Nations Championship.
Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs)
Namibia-born Patrick Schickerling first joined Exeter Chiefs in November 2018 and spent time on loan to Chinnor and the Cornish Pirates. The 23-year-old prop has impressed since breaking into the Chiefs line-up and evidently caught the eye of Eddie Jones.
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Best known for a wonder-try scored against Toulon in the Challenge Cup, Henry Arundell has fast become a rugby household name. The London Irish speedster played for England Under-20s in the Six Nations earlier this year and could make the step up to the matchday senior squad this summer.
Charlie Atkinson (Wasps)
In 2020 Atkinson signed for Wasps and in January 2021 he was selected for the England Under-20s squad. However, a few weeks later the flyhalf was chosen to be part of the England shadow squad for the 2021 Six Nations. The 20-year-old has the chance once again to impress Jones and his staff.
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby)
Orlando Bailey made his debut for Bath in September 2020 and later competed in the 2021 Under-20s Six Nations for England. A year later the young flyhalf received a callup to the senior international squad for the Six Nations, but withdrew after suffering a hamstring injury in training.
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish)
Ollie Hassell-Collins has long been tipped for an international appearance, having featured for England Under-18s, Under-20s and England Sevens. Jones invited the 23-year-old winger to training camps in 2021 and 2022 for the Six Nations but never gave the London Irish star an opportunity.
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Will Joseph is trying to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Jonathan Joseph and become a starting centre for England. The 19-year-old has been with London Irish since the age of 13 and has been capped at Under-18s level with England.
Paolo Odogwu (Wasps)
Originally tipped to be a prop or number 8, Paolo Odogwu has transformed into a dangerous attacking threat at outside centre or on the wing. The Wasps flyer has represented England at age grade level and was called into to the senior squad for the 2021 Six Nations.
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Max Ojomoh made his debut for Bath in the Premiership in March 2021, a year after he gained four England Under-20 caps in the Six Nations. The centre got his first senior international nod last summer when he was invited to participate in Jones’ training camp.
Tom Parton (London Irish)
Tom Parton featured in the 2017 World Rugby Under-20 Championship for England and made the age group category again in 2018. Since then, the fullback has become a mainstay in the London Irish squad and, at the age of 24, has been included in the senior training team for the first time.
