Ashton makes England comeback

LONDON: Winger Chris Ashton has been given the chance to resurrect his stalled England career after being named in Stuart Lancaster’s bulging 50man rugby World Cup training squad yesterday.

Ashton, the joint leading try-scorer at the last World Cup, has featured in just two internationals since 2013, but his relentless scoring for Saracens this season made an irresistible case for a recall.

The 28-year-old will now battle with Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson, Jonny May, Marland Yarde and David Strettle, another surprise recall who has not featured since 2013, for the wing berths as Christian Wade misses out.

As expected, there was no place for foreign-based players despite frantic lobbying in the English media for Lancaster to break with the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) position and select them.

Ashton’s Saracens teammate Maro Itoje was among several uncapped players in the squad, which will be trimmed to 31 in August.

The 20-year-old, who can play lock or in the back row, has forced his way into unexpected contention after a barnstorming second half of the season having captained England’s under-20s to their World Cup triumph last year.

“It feels like the countdown’s begun,” Lancaster said in the bowels of the stadium where England will kick off the World Cup against Fiji in four months.

“We feel we have tremendous strength in depth, and are excited to name this extended squad that allows us to look at a wide group of players.“– Reuters