NATHAN Hughes has received his first England call-up along with three other Wasps team mates for the Autumn internationals against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.
Eddie Jones has included Hughes for the first time while Tommy Taylor, Joe Launchbury and Elliot Daly have also been given the nod as part of the 33-man squad for the Old Mutual Wealth Series.
The players will fly to Portugal this Sunday (October 30) for a week of specific training before returning to England’s base at Pennyhill Park to prepare for the opening game against South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on November 12.
England regular James Haskell and Sam Jones will miss the series as they continue to recover from injury.
“With a number of influential players missing through injury we have two weeks to prepare a robust and resilient team to meet the challenges set for us in the Old Mutual Wealth Series,” said England head coach Jones.
“Our training camp in Portugal is a great opportunity to spend a week together, focus on putting our game plans in place and for new players to understand the England way.
“We’re looking forward to being back in front of a passionate Twickenham crowd and I’m confident we can prepare well and put together a matchday 23 which is full of pride, energy and commitment to give South Africa the game of their lives.”
Hughes is one of six uncapped players selected with Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby) Mike Haley (Sale Sharks), Alex Lozowski (Saracens) and Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) all included.
After recovering from a lengthy injury, Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) returns to the England set-up, as do Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Coventry-born Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) and Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby).
33-man squad for Old Mutual Wealth Series:
Forwards
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for George Kruis (Saracens)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints) *injury replacement for James Haskell (Wasps)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby) *injury replacement for Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) *injury replacement for Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers)
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Mike Haley (Sale Sharks)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins) *injury replacement for Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
