DYLAN HARTLEY’S irreverent GUIDE TO THE ENGLAND SQUAD

JOE COKANASIGA AGE: 21 CAPS: 8 POSITION: WING Silent and strong. Very quiet but does his talking on the pitch — and his Instagram — which is a PR’s dream. The stage is set for the big fella to have a great World Cup. DAN COLE AGE: 32 CAPS: 89 POSITION: PROP Miserably negative and dry, but in a loveable way. Brings so much experience at tighthead, which makes him very valuable. Will never be too far from someone from Leicester — or Joe Marler. LUKE COWAN-DICKIE AGE: 26 CAPS: 15 POSITION: HOOKER A man of so many talents, from

Call of Duty and Fortnite, to farrier skills and darts. The bloke can do it all. Hell of a competitor who adds a dynamic edge to our pack. TOM CURRY AGE: 21 CAPS: 13 POSITION: FLANKER Real family man. After rooming with him on tour, I was impressed when he FaceTimed his mum and dad every night. Probably wears the worst underpants I’ve ever seen — they’re like breeches from the 1800s. Mountain of a young man and plays like it, too. ELLIOT DALY AGE: 26 CAPS: 33 POSITION: FULL-BACK Coffee connoisseur often found tucked nicely in Jamie George’s pocket. The two of them are disturbingly inseparable. Annoyingly good at most things. He’s a natural sportsman. Loves cricket and stage/drama. OWEN FARRELL (C) AGE: 27 CAPS: 73 POSITION: FLY-HALF His Wigan accent quickly disappears when he’s belting out tunes in the shower. A good room-mate who makes a decent brew and shoots the breeze. He’s straight-talking and inspirational with his words and his actions. A true talisman for England. GEORGE FORD AGE: 26 CAPS: 59 POSITION: FLY-HALF Nicknamed the Red Rat. He was originally just the Rat, but whenever the temperature goes above 20 degrees, he burns to a lovely shade of lobster. A strong leader and player who will be integral to the team’s preparation and performance. PIERS FRANCIS AGE: 29 CAPS: 8 POSITION: CENTRE He’s a Jekyll and Hyde character with a weird accent which is half Gravesend and half Takapuna, New Zealand. He’s a consummate professional with a burning desire to improve... and he loves a social. ELLIS GENGE AGE: 24 CAPS: 12 POSITION: PROP The bloke has a heart of gold. He looks tough, acts tough and plays tough. Loves online gaming, Mike Tyson, looking like Drederick Tatum (from The Simpsons) and humid conditions. JAMIE GEORGE AGE: 28 CAPS: 40 POSITION: HOOKER Coffee and Elliot Daly connoisseur. Things may have changed now but in my time Jamie, along with Elliot and Danny Care, were head of our social committee. These guys always went above and beyond to provide craic for the boys. WILLI HEINZ AGE: 32 CAPS: 4 POSITION: SCRUM-HALF Giving all the old fellas out there hope that it’s not too late! Key to Gloucester’s rise last year. Although he doesn’t have dozens of international caps, his age and experience will be invaluable. MARO ITOJE AGE: 24 CAPS: 29 POSITION: LOCK Loves art, politics, endorsements and Steve Borthwick. Maro and George Kruis compete for Steve’s love and approval and in doing so, provide us with a first-class line-out. Trains like he plays, always 110 per cent and always brightens up team dinners with his Nigerian shirts. JONATHAN JOSEPH AGE: 28 CAPS: 42 POSITION: CENTRE Acts like he’s from Kyle Sinckler’s neck of the woods in south London — in reality he’s anything but. Talented pianist. He’s never too far from Ant Watson. Physically impressive and spends more time than anyone on the massage table ‘getting ready for training’. GEORGE KRUIS AGE: 29 CAPS: 35 POSITION: LOCK His nickname is George Snooze because his chats are so boring. Loves line-outs, Steve Borthwick and line-out meetings with Steve Borthwick. Hates under-thrown line- outs, line- out spacings that

“Loves KFC, a few beers and PlayStation” “Dresses in what I’d call ‘Charity Shop Chic” “Loves art, politics, endorsements and Steve Borthwick”

aren’t equidistant and people not finishing lifts. Savvy businessman who has his own CBD oil company — 45 CBD. Now I’ve mentioned it, I’m hoping I’ll get some free product! JOE LAUNCHBURY AGE: 28 CAPS: 61 POSITION: LOCK His nickname is Slosh. Owns the biggest bum in world rugby. For a man of sublime skill and grace on the field, he’s the clumsiest off it — constantly stumbling, bumping, knocking into and breaking things. LEWIS LUDLAM AGE: 23 CAPS: 2 POSITION: FLANKER A man of the arts — photography, fashion, travel and music. He’s very Shoreditch! For a guy who was in limbo about a contract renewal last year, he’s accepted the challenge laid down by Chris Boyd at Saints and is reaping the rewards of his hard work. COURTNEY LAWES AGE: 30 CAPS: 75 POSITION: LOCK One of England’s best weapons. The big fella won’t be far from what we call ‘Mission Control’, which consists of iPad, laptop, bluetooth speaker, headphones and phone, all operating at once. Loves Clash of Clans, Netflix series, R’n’B tunes and FaceTiming his four kids all at the same time. JOE MARLER AGE: 29 CAPS: 62 POSITION: PROP Provides morale-boosting honesty and negativity. Dan Cole’s slightly chirpier partner in crime. Every team needs someone to say the thing we are all thinking. Loves bench press, loves his family and obviously loves rugby because he retired then came back! JONNY MAY AGE: 29 CAPS: 47 POSITION: WING I’ve never met someone so committed to being the best player he can be. Morning, noon and night routines of preparation and recovery. Huge character in the squad who will never be too far from George Ford and always be as far as possible from his antagonisers Marler and Cole. Loves stretching — and loves the series The Master. RUARIDH McCONNOCHIE AGE: 27 CAPS: 1 POSITION: WING An unknown on the international scene, but a popular player at Bath who had an excellent Premiership season, which got him a foot in the door. Eddie is an excellent judge of character and Ruaridh has obviously made a very good impression to get his opportunity. JACK NOWELL AGE: 26 CAPS: 33 POSITION: WING Loves his sponsors! Where to find him? In the gym doing extra weights sessions or building Lego in his room. His garage is the envy of most blokes — nice motors, stand-up paddle boards, electric bikes, a motorcycle, a boat. But for all the big boy’s toys, he’s still got time for Lego! KYLE SINCKLER AGE: 26 CAPS: 25 POSITION: PROP The emotional hard man. He cares about what he does and who he’s doing it with and for. A huge sports fan who is like a walking Google. He could tell you the most unusual stats on football or rugby, like what was the first grass- roots club Julian White played for? Often found chilling in bed with his headphones on watching Hard

Knocks, listening to podcasts or texting Ben Te’o. JACK SINGLETON AGE: 23 CAPS: 2 POSITION: HOOKER I don’t know Jack very well but I met him when he was 11 years old at Franklin’s Gardens. I also met him last year when Northampton played against Worcester and he had a stormer of a game. Ironically, that was the last game I played. Funny that. HENRY SLADE AGE: 26 CAPS: 22 POSITION: CENTRE This guy is seriously handsome, with a good tan, a great rig and absolutely perfect hair. He plays exactly the way he looks — silky! Never strays too far from the other Exeter lads. MANU TUILAGI AGE: 28 CAPS: 35 POSITION: CENTRE The big chief is the latte art champion in camp. Never too far from the team room where he can make you a lovely coffee then hustle you on the snooker table for £ 20. I’m about £ 80 down — probably not a good idea to be in debt to him after watching him ‘collect’ off my mate Chris Ashton. SAM UNDERHILL AGE: 23 CAPS: 10 POSITION: FLANKER Dresses in what I’d call ‘Charity Shop Chic’. He is an absolute monster in the tackle and breakdown which suits nicely, as one of his nicknames is the Pale Orc. BILLY VUNIPOLA AGE: 26 CAPS: 45 POSITION: NO 8 The big, cuddly teddy bear. Loves the boys, KFC, having a few beers and PlayStation, when he’s not eating or sleeping. Often found recovering (sleeping) or avoiding his grumpy older brother. A real emotional heartbeat of the side who always delivers when he plays. MAKO VUNIPOLA AGE: 28 CAPS: 54 POSITION: PROP Regardless of the weather he will always be wrapped in a winter coat with his hood up. Nicknamed Snorlax after the sleepy Pokemon, as when he’s not eating or training, he’s sleeping. Due to Tongan hierarchy, he makes Billy do everything for him (all in good spirit). ANTHONY WATSON AGE: 25 CAPS: 36 POSITION: WING His nickname is Young Horse. Wishes he was an American sportsman. Wishes he was Christian Wade. Often seen slinking about with Jonathan Joseph using slang I don’t understand. One of our most exciting attacking weapons. The more we can get the ball to him the better. MARK WILSON AGE: 29 CAPS: 15 POSITION: BACK ROW This guy is a machine. Loves training, loves playing; just loves the whole environment. One of the real genuine good guys in the team who came to the party very late and appreciates and embraces every moment. BEN YOUNGS AGE: 30 CAPS: 89 POSITION: SCRUM-HALF He’s looking in great nick for the World Cup. For a lad whose skin-folds were often like my own, that’s good news for England fans! Being in the driving seat of the team, I’d expect to see him controlling the tempo of how we want to play.

“Clumsy AND

owns the biggest bum in world rugby” “Nickname is George Snooze because his chats are so boring ” READ DYLAN HARTLEY IN SPORTSMAIL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CUP “Provides moraleand boosting honesty negativity”