- England head coach Steve Borthwick has named his first summer squad
- Wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is involved but hasn’t played since December
- There are 14 uncapped players in the 33-man party for this week
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been named in England’s first training squad of the summer as the Exeter wing nears a return to fitness from a long-term shoulder injury.
Feyi-Waboso hasn’t played since December when he suffered the problem in a Gallagher Premiership match against Sale.
His time on the sidelines hindered his chances of being selected for the British & Irish Lions squad for the trip to Australia.
As a centrally contracted England player, Feyi-Waboso’s recovery was monitored by both the RFU and Exeter, although both parties have admitted the process could have been handled better.
It was initially decided the player wouldn’t have an operation in a bid to be fit for the Six Nations, but he then suffered a reoccurrence of the injury in training with England and was forced to go under the knife.
That is why his England squad naming is significant.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been named in England’s training squad for the summer
Steve Borthwick named his 33-man squad on Tuesday morning, including new names
National head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 33-man squad for training at Pennyhill Park this week.
He is without the 13 Englishmen selected by the Lions as well as all players from Northampton and Bath preparing for this weekend’s European finals in Cardiff.
As a result, there are a number of new faces in the likes of forwards Richard Capstick, Emeka Ilione and Jack Kenningham and backs Tobias Elliott and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White.
They are among 14 uncapped players in the squad, although it is important to note England’s final summer party is likely to look very different to this one.
Forwards George Martin and Chandler Cunningham-South will continue their respective recoveries from injury as part of the squad this week.
Without their captain Maro Itoje, who is leading the Lions Down Under and 12 other first-choice stars, England will play two games in Argentina and also face the USA in Washington this summer.
It is a chance for Borthwick to give a chance to have a look at a new generation of players.
An England XV will face a France XV at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham prior to the tour on Saturday, June 21.
Richard Capstick is among a number of new faces to be included in Borthwick’s squad
Borthwick’s men will then head to the Americas for meetings with Argentina in La Plata and San Juan on July 5 and July 12 respectively.
Given the Pumas will be at full strength and England’s top stars will be on Lions duty, a tough and uncompromising challenge is expected.
England’s final game of the tour will be against the USA in Washington on July 19.
Former England and current Leicester full-back Mike Brown has confirmed he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.
The 39-year-old will bring down the curtain on a 20-year professional career which has seen him make 430 club appearances for Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons and the Tigers.
Brown also made 72 Test appearances for England.
