END OF THE ROAD?
» Danny Cipriani’s World Cup dream could be over as he is left out of latest training party,
DANNY Cipriani has been cut from England’s squad for their 12-day training camp in Italy. The Gloucester fly-half was originally selected in their pre-world Cup training squad but spent last week doing specialised strength and conditioning training along with Bath duo Sam Underhill and Anthony Watson away from the main squad in Bristol.
While Underhill and Watson will travel with the squad to Treviso, Cipriani has not been included in the squad with no reason given for his absence.
It now appears as though the writing is on the wall for Cipriani, leaving his World Cup dream once again in tatters.
Willi Heinz is the only remaining Gloucester player in the squad with wing Ollie Thorley, who trained with the squad in Bristol last week, also left out.
England head coach Eddie Jones will name his 31-man World Cup squad on August 12, the day after they face Wales in their first warm-up game.
A group of 38 players have flown from London to spend 12 days in Italy for a heat camp to help acclimatise players to conditions expected during the tournament in Japan.
Ciprani is not injured with the Rugby Football Union stating he is victim of Jones’ fluid approach to selection before naming his final squad.
However, it is understood that the reigning players’ player of the year and Premiership player of the year has not been given an explanation by Jones for being left out.
With all of England’s front line players included, his omission is a blow to his hopes of participating in the global showpiece.
Also missing from the warm weather camp that runs for 12 days is Ben Moon, but his loosehead rival Joe Marler is present following his return from international retirement.
The exclusion of Moon points to Marler and Hartpury old boy Ellis Genge supporting Mako Vunipola in the position when the final World Cup squad is named.
Mike Brown continues his unexpected return to the the fold that began in Bristol a week ago by earning a spot
on the plane bound for Treviso.
Brown appeared destined to miss the tournament in Japan that begins on September 20 when he was overlooked for the original training squad, but has unexpectedly forced his way back into Jones’ plans.
Harlequins centre Joe Marchant joins the group for the first time and Jones insists the door is still open for those players who have returned to their clubs.
He said: “Selection is absolutely challenging, we have left some good players doing work at their clubs and they must be ready if called up.
“Treviso is a hard yards camp with conditions similar to Tokyo. Team training will be about being adaptable and off the field enjoying each other’s company.”
England will play Wales (August 11) and Ireland (August 24) at Twickenham and Italy (September 6) in Newcastle as part of the Quilter Internationals as well as an away fixture against Wales (August 17) in Cardiff.
England will begin their Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan against Tonga in Sapporo on September 22 (11.15am), then face the USA in Kobe on September 26 (11.45am), Argentina in Tokyo (October 5, 9am) and France in Yokohama (October 12, 9.15am).
Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 85 caps) Luke Cowan-dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 10 caps) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 10 caps) Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps) Jamie George (Saracens, 37 caps) Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27 caps) George Kruis
(Saracens, 32 caps) Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 58 caps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 71 caps) Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, uncapped) Joe Marler (Harlequins, 59 caps) Brad Shields (Wasps, 8 caps) Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22 caps) Jack Singleton (Saracens, uncapped) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 9 caps) Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 41 caps) Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps) Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps) Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons / Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins, 72 caps) Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 4 caps) Elliot Daly (Saracens, 30 caps) Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70 caps) George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps) Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 4 caps) Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped) Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 40 caps) Joe Marchant (Harlequins, uncapped) Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps) Ruaridh Mcconnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps) Ben Spencer (Saracens, 3 caps) Ben Te’o (unattached, 18 caps) Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 32 caps) Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 33 caps) Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 85 caps)