Woodward in as Te’o joins long list of injuries

Three brought in to Jones’ squad as they prepare for South Africa tour

Ben Te’o has become the latest bigname absentee from England’s South Africa tour.

The powerful Worcester centre will miss the three-Test trip due to an injury suffered while with England, although it is an aggravation of an older injury.

He joins a lengthy list of players currently sidelined, including Dylan Hartley, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph and Courtney Lawes.

England head coach Eddie Jones has made three changes to his original 34-man squad. Te’o is out with what the Rugby Football Union describe as a “small repair to quad muscle”.

Sale Sharks back Cameron Redpath and flanker Jack Willis, who both have knee injuries, are also out.

The RFU announced call-ups for uncapped Gloucester full-back Jason Woodward, Northampton back Piers Francis and Wasps No 8 Nathan Hughes.

New Zealand-born Woodward, who qualifies for England through his grandmother, has produced consistently impressive form for his club Gloucester this season.

But there will be surprise in many quarters at Saracens full-back Alex Goode being overlooked, especially given his outstanding display in last Saturday’s Premiership final win over Exeter 27-10.

Hughes, meanwhile, only recently returned to action following a knee injury sustained during this season’s NatWest 6 Nations.

England face South Africa in Johannesburg on June 9, before tackling the Springboks in Bloemfontein a week later and then completing the series in Cape Town on June 23.