Lions miss England’s party trip
EXETER wing Jack Nowell and Bath centre Jonathan Joseph missed a beach party as injuries ruled them out of England’s training camp in Brighton.
The Lions duo were due to meet up on the south coast yesterday morning for a two-day get-together with boss Eddie Jones but are crocked.
Nowell came off after 75 minutes of Chiefs’ 30-6 win over Leicester on Sunday with an ankle injury and Joseph copped a dead leg in Bath’s 31-26 defeat to Wasps last Friday.
Bath lock Charlie Ewels (hamstring), Northampton fly-half Piers Francis and Exeter prop Harry Williams, who have been concussed, also failed to travel.
London Irish wing Joe Cokanasiga, who toured Argentina with England in the summer without playing a game, has been called up along with Bath prop Henry Thomas.
Thomas has battled back from two knee injuries and won the last of his seven caps against New Zealand in 2014.
Cokanasiga, 20, was taken to South America by Jones in June, despite carrying an injury.
This is England’s last training camp before Jones names his Six Nations squad on January 18 when he is bidding for an unprecedented third title on the spin.
England kick-off their campaign against Italy on February 4.
Injured Elliot Daly, Ellis Genge and Nathan Hughes will miss at least part of the tournament.
But Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje made the trip to Brighton along with another long-term casualty, Ben Te’o.