Rugby Semi-final defeat frees up Bears for England and Lions
BRISTOL Bears trio Harry Randall, Max Malins and Will Capon have been added to Eddie Jones’ 36-player England squad to prepare for the summer series of fixtures but Premiership player of the season nominee Piers O’Conor has missed out, writes John Evely.
The Bears trio come in after Bristol were knocked out in the Premiership play-off semi-final on Saturday, losing 36-43 to Harlequins at Ashton Gate.
Malins, who will return to Saracens next season after a year on loan at Bristol, starred with a hattrick of tries from the wing on Saturday, while Randall and Capon started on the bench along with O’Conor.
Meanwhile, Bristol Bears tighthead Kyle Sinckler has joined the British and Irish Lions in their Jersey training camp ahead of facing Japan this weekend in the first game of the 2021 tour.
The England squad reconvened at The Lensbury, Teddington, on Sunday ahead of their opening game in a week’s time - England A v Scotland A at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester.
Four players from the other losing semi-finalists, Sale Sharks - who were beaten 40-30 by Exeter Chiefs, were added to the squad with Jones calling up Ben Curry, Curtis Langdon, Bevan Rodd and Manu Tuilagi.
Northampton Saints’ George Furbank and Ollie
Sleightholme have also joined up with the squad, which includes 22 uncapped players.
Jones said: “We had a really good training week last week. We’ve now added some new players and are looking forward to working with them.
“The players who aren’t with us now acquitted themselves really well in training and though they are disappointed to go home, we’ve made the point to them that if they keep working hard then there will be more opportunities for them.
“We will treat the week as a Test week, everyone will work hard and be ready for a competitive game on Sunday.”
Jones will name a further updated squad on Monday June 28, following the Gallagher Premiership Final and England A v Scotland A.
England will then play two Test matches at Twickenham Stadium against USA on Sunday July 4 (2pm KO) and Canada on Saturday July 10 (3pm KO).
England’s 36-man training squad Forwards: Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped) Will Capon (Bristol Bears, uncapped) Callum Chick (Newcastle
Falcons, uncapped) Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, uncapped) Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 21 caps) Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 28 caps)Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, uncapped) Paul Hill (Northampton Saints, 5 caps) Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors, 1 cap) Curtis Langdon (Sale Sharks, uncapped) Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 8 caps) Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped) Josh McNally (Bath Rugby, uncapped) George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap) Chunya Munga (London Irish, uncapped) Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, 1 cap) Miles Reid (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, uncapped) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 22 caps) Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Backs: Josh Bassett (Wasps, uncapped) Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 9 caps) George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 3 caps) Dan Kelly (Leicester Tigers, uncapped) Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 6 caps) Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 7 caps) Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, uncapped) Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped) Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, uncapped) Dan Robson (Wasps, 12 caps) Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, uncapped) Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, uncapped) Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 43 caps) Jacob Umaga (Wasps, uncapped)