England Saxons squad v Ireland Wolfhounds
Rugby league convert Burgess included after five first-team games
Experienced, exciting squad to face Ireland Wolfhounds in Cork on 30 January
Bath Rugby’s code-hopper Sam Burgess has been included in the England Saxons squad to face Ireland Wolfhounds in Cork on 30 January after just five first-team games for the West Country side.
The 26 year-old arrived in union as arguably the finest rugby league player in the world after leading South Sydney Rabbitohs to the NRL title in 2014 and has impressed in Bath’s charge to second in the Aviva Premiership table.
Saracens’ 20 year-old lock Maro Itoje, captain of England’s Under 20s Junior World Championship winning side last June and also skipper of Saracens Storm’s recent Aviva A League triumph, makes a first appearance in the second-string squad too.
There is an experienced feel to Jon Callard’s group, with many Test performers from the QBE Internationals last November present. Lee Dickson, the Northampton Saints scrum half with 18 caps to his name, will captain the side.
Newcastle Falcons tight head Kieran Brookes, Wasps loose head Matt Mullan, Bath Rugby’s Rob Webber are available in the front row, while British and Irish Lions flanker Tom Croft makes a welcome return to the international fold.
Chris Ashton, Marland Yarde and Christian Wade are included as options on the wing, alongside precocious Exeter Chiefs fly half Henry Slade.
England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster will be at the Friday night match at the Irish Independent Park and said players can force their way into contention for RBS 6 Nations inclusion.
He said: “The match against the Wolfhounds in Cork gives us a great opportunity to take a look at a group of players who are right on the edge of the senior squad.
“And we also have the likes of David Strettle and Freddie Burns, who are very much in our thinking as options going forward.”
England Saxons squad
Forwards
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Christian Day (Northampton Saints)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Garvey (Bath Rugby)
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby)
Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)
Alex Waller (Northampton Saints)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
Backs
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints, captain)
Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
Joe Simpson (Wasps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Christian Wade (Wasps)
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