First England call-ups for Jeffries and Clarke
GLOUCESTER lock Freddie Clarke, Bristol back row man Sam Jeffries and Bath utility back Max Ojomoh are among the uncapped players selected by head coach Eddie Jones for this week’s England training camp.
With no players available from the quartet of Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists, the latest 35-man training squad has an experimental look about it, with Jeffries’ story a remarkable one.
The Bears flanker has received his first international call-up at the end of a comeback season after more than two years out with knee issues.
Jeffries, 29, returned to playing this season having spent a couple of years on the Bears back-room staff as the club’s professional development manager, helping players prepare for their careers after rugby.
However, he has been a regular in Pat Lam’s side this season and will now train with England.
Bristol clubmate Harry Randall is also in the squad, but there is still no Kyle Sinckler, who has been dogged by injury since the Six Nations.
The British & Irish Lions prop is understood to have a back problem that requires rest and rehabilitation rather than an operation.
Gloucester’s Clarke, meanwhile, has had something of a breakout campaign for the Cherry & Whites.
The second row has played for most of the season due to long-term injuries to Ed Slater and Alex Craig, and has taken his opportunity with both hands, having had, at the age of 29, his best season in professional rugby as Gloucester finished fifth in the Premiership.
Clarke joins Kingsholm clubmates Mark Atkinson, Jonny May and Jack Singleton in the England training squad this week. May has been immediately recalled having come back from knee surgery. The winger made his first appearance in five months from the bench in the 54-7 win over Saracens on Saturday.
Ojomoh has been involved with England before, although like club colleague Orlando Bailey he has yet to feature in a match for the Red Rose.
Despite finishing bottom of the Premiership, Bath have six players in Jones’ training squad. As well as
Bailey and Ojomoh, the latter having recently recovered from injury, Bath are also represented by England regulars Charlie Ewels, Will Stuart and Sam Underhill, while wing Joe Cokanasiga will also heads back into camp. Anthony Watson, who will move from Bath to Leicester over the summer, will join the camp too – but only to rehab a calf issue he developed having recovered from an ACL injury he sustained in October.
However, lock Ewan Richards, who trained with England month, has not been included. last
England training squad – Backs: H Arundell
(London Irish), C Atkinson (Wasps), M Atkinson (Gloucester), O Bailey, J Cokanasiga (both Bath), O Hassell-Collins, W Joseph (both London Irish), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter), P Odogwu (Wasps), M Ojomoh (Bath), T Parton (London Irish), A Radwan (Newcastle), H Randall (Bristol), D Robson (Wasps). Forwards: B Alo, A Barbeary (both Wasps), J Blamire, C Chick (both Newcastle), F Clarke (Gloucester), T Curry (Sale), T Davison (Newcastle),
C Ewels (Bath), W Goodrick-Clarke (London Irish), J Hill (Exeter), T Hill (Worcester), S Jeffries (Bristol), G McGuigan (Newcastle), T Pearson (London Irish), B Rodd (Sale), P Schickerling (Exeter), J Singleton (Gloucester), W Stuart, S Underhill (both Bath), J Willis (Wasps).