England elite player squad
Forwards
Steffon Armitage London Irish
*David Atwood Gloucester Rugby
Dan Cole Leicester Tigers
Tom Croft Leicester Tigers
Paul Doran-Jones Gloucester Rugby
Nick Easter Harlequins
David Flatman Bath Rugby
*Hendre Fourie Leeds Carnegie
*Jon Golding Newcastle Falcons
Dylan Hartley Northampton Saints
James Haskell Stade Francais
Courtney Lawes Northampton Saints
Lee Mears Bath Rugby
Lewis Moody Leicester Tigers
Tom Palmer Stade Francais
*Geoff Parling Leicester Tigers
Tim Payne London Wasps
Chris Robshaw Harlequins
Simon Shaw London Wasps
Steve Thompson CA Brive
*Dan Ward-Smith London Wasps
*Rob Webber London Wasps
Dave Wilson Bath Rugby
Joe Worsley London Wasps
Backs
Delon Armitage London Irish
Chris Ashton Northampton Saints
Matt Banahan Bath Rugby
Olly Barkley Bath Rugby
Danny Care Harlequins
Mark Cueto Sale Sharks
Toby Flood Leicester Tigers
Ben Foden Northampton Saints
Shane Geraghty Northampton Saints
*Shontayne Hape Bath Rugby
Charlie Hodgson Sale Sharks
Ugo Monye Harlequins
*Joe Simpson London Wasps
David Strettle Harlequins
Mathew Tait Sale Sharks
Mike Tindall Gloucester Rugby
*Dominic Waldouck London Wasps
Richard Wigglesworth Sale Sharks
Jonny Wilkinson RC Toulon
Ben Youngs Leicester Tigers
*Uncapped
Congratulations Geoff Parling on a deserved call up!
Forwards
Duncan Bell (Bath Rugby)
Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
Alex Corbiserio (London Irish)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors)
Stuart Hooper (Bath Rugby)
Tom Lindsay (London Wasps)
Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby)
David Paice (London Irish)
Tom Rees (London Wasps)
Andy Saull (Saracens)
George Skivington (London Wasps)
Rob Vickers (Newcastle Falcons)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Wood (Worcester Warriors)
Backs
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Jon Clarke (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints)
James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby)
Ollie Smith (Montpellier)
Tom Varndell (London Wasps)
Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)
Well done to all the lads, especially Parling who deserves his call. However no Jordan Crane in either squad, did Johno not get the news that he's back from injury?
I imagine he is having the summer off to fully recover and get a good pre season in, Im sure he knows thats the reason. (Jordan that is) A lot of players! Blimey! I would have liked to see a few less so we can have a really good look at some over a couple of games, rather than half a match each kinda thing. Could really have done without Fourie in there. :censored: Saffa!
Im suprised to see ollie smith in the saxons, also well done Parling. Its also a suprise to see Charlie hodgeson back in the england mix, I wouldnt say he is as good as floody or wilko.
I have always defended Johnno when many people have slammed his selection policy as being irratic and wholely inconsistent.
But OLLIE SMITH in the Saxons? He can't even get a game for Montpellier this season and has done NOTHING. Don't get me wrong, I like Ollie and respect the time he spent with Tigers but what on earth has he done to warrant a Saxons call-up?
And Louis Deacon goes from starter to out of the squad and out of the Saxons squad. Why? What did he do that was sooooo wrong? And Dowson didn'e make the first squad after a stunning season.
I can understand why Ollie is in the saxons, he is moving back to the premiership next year and so will be more in the spotlight, and dont forget he was a british lion, I certainly wouldnt blame the coaches for trying to give him a bit of a boost on an england development tour (which is what the saxons is really)
The biggesst surprise for me is that Dowson has not been named in the main squad, he has been consistent all season and I rate him as a better player than either Easter or Ward Smith.
