Ben Youngs has been selected in the England squad for the 2014 QBE Internationals.
Youngs, the Leicester Tigers on-field captain for the start of this season, is included in England’s 33-man squad for the four-game series against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia.
The Tigers scrum-half, who has won 38 caps for his country, will meet up with the rest of the squad at their Pennyhill Park base on Sunday, after this weekend’s round of European Rugby Champions Cup fixtures.
Manu Tuilagi picked up a groin injury in Saturday’s European Rugby Champions Cup game against Ulster Rugby at Welford Road and is not included in the squad. He is replaced by Bath Rugby’s Jonathan Joseph. Dan Cole (neck), Tom Croft (knee), Geoff Parling (concussion), Ed Slater (knee) and Tom Youngs (shoulder) will not be available for the QBE Internationals.
The squad includes lock George Kruis (Saracens) and winger Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath) for the first time, and will be captained by back rower Chris Robshaw (Harlequins).
England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “The first six rounds of the Premiership and opening round of European action have given us plenty to think about as coaches with a lot of players putting their hand up for selection and we are excited by the options available to us.
“We are still monitoring a number of players injury-wise and with another intensive round of European games to come, including the Wasps-Harlequins and Sale-Clermont games on Sunday, there are likely to be additions to the squad after the weekend as we move into the training camp and towards the games – so there is plenty to be decided before the New Zealand match comes around.
"We have four quality sides coming to Twickenham for this QBE Internationals series and we are really looking forward to playing at home in front of our passionate supporters as we continue the build up to the World Cup in 12 months’ time.”
“Chris (Robshaw) continues to lead from the front and with other players now stepping up into captaincy and senior roles at their clubs, we are building a team of leaders who can take England forward.
“There are a number of players unavailable for this series because of long term injury but they are all on the road to recovery and as always, it gives the opportunity for others to come in and stake their claim.
“We have included Jonathan Joseph as an injury replacement for Manu. It is obviously disappointing to lose Manu but JJ has been in great form and deserves this chance. Our medics will continue to work closely with Leicester’s and ensure that Manu is supported in his rehabilitation from his injury.”
England’s opening game of the QBE Internationals is against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday, November 8. England then take on South Africa on November 15, Samoa on November 22 and Australia on November 29.
England Senior Squad (33)
Loose-head props
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Tight-head props
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Hookers
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
Locks
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Back rows
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Scrum halves
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Fly halves
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints)
Centres
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Back threes
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Youngs, the Leicester Tigers on-field captain for the start of this season, is included in England’s 33-man squad for the four-game series against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia.
The Tigers scrum-half, who has won 38 caps for his country, will meet up with the rest of the squad at their Pennyhill Park base on Sunday, after this weekend’s round of European Rugby Champions Cup fixtures.
Manu Tuilagi picked up a groin injury in Saturday’s European Rugby Champions Cup game against Ulster Rugby at Welford Road and is not included in the squad. He is replaced by Bath Rugby’s Jonathan Joseph. Dan Cole (neck), Tom Croft (knee), Geoff Parling (concussion), Ed Slater (knee) and Tom Youngs (shoulder) will not be available for the QBE Internationals.
The squad includes lock George Kruis (Saracens) and winger Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath) for the first time, and will be captained by back rower Chris Robshaw (Harlequins).
England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “The first six rounds of the Premiership and opening round of European action have given us plenty to think about as coaches with a lot of players putting their hand up for selection and we are excited by the options available to us.
“We are still monitoring a number of players injury-wise and with another intensive round of European games to come, including the Wasps-Harlequins and Sale-Clermont games on Sunday, there are likely to be additions to the squad after the weekend as we move into the training camp and towards the games – so there is plenty to be decided before the New Zealand match comes around.
"We have four quality sides coming to Twickenham for this QBE Internationals series and we are really looking forward to playing at home in front of our passionate supporters as we continue the build up to the World Cup in 12 months’ time.”
“Chris (Robshaw) continues to lead from the front and with other players now stepping up into captaincy and senior roles at their clubs, we are building a team of leaders who can take England forward.
“There are a number of players unavailable for this series because of long term injury but they are all on the road to recovery and as always, it gives the opportunity for others to come in and stake their claim.
“We have included Jonathan Joseph as an injury replacement for Manu. It is obviously disappointing to lose Manu but JJ has been in great form and deserves this chance. Our medics will continue to work closely with Leicester’s and ensure that Manu is supported in his rehabilitation from his injury.”
England’s opening game of the QBE Internationals is against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday, November 8. England then take on South Africa on November 15, Samoa on November 22 and Australia on November 29.
England Senior Squad (33)
Loose-head props
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Tight-head props
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Hookers
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
Locks
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Back rows
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Scrum halves
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Fly halves
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints)
Centres
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Back threes
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
