Jones calls up 12 uncapped players for early England camp

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON (Reuters) - England coach Eddie Jones, restricted in his options by the ongoing Premiership season, has included 12 uncapped players in an initial 28-man training squad to begin preparations for the delayed Six Nations game away to Italy on Oct. 31.

England will also have a non-cap match against the Barbarians the week before, and later roll into the new Autumn Nations Cup tournament.

The new squad will convene on Tuesday for a three-day training camp at a London hotel.

“Our preparation to build the team for the Italy game starts now," Jones said in a statement https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/eddie-jones-england-men-training-squad. "We have a three-day camp this week and another one next week. We’ll be slowly building up, working on the basics and working on team cohesion."

Jones's options have been limited by many players still being involved in the Premiership playoffs as well as European finals.

An updated squad will be confirmed ahead of England’s next training camp from Oct. 15-17.

After the Rome trip, where a win could secure the Six Nations title, England face Georgia, Ireland and Wales and then a "decider" against a team from the other Nations Cup pool. England training squad (* denotes uncapped player)

Backs

Ali Crossdale, Saracens*Elliot Daly, SaracensFraser Dingwall, Northampton Saints*Nathan Earle, Harlequins*Owen Farrell, SaracensGeorge Ford, Leicester TigersPiers Francis, Northampton SaintsGeorge Furbank, Northampton SaintsWilli Heinz, Gloucester RugbyJoe Marchant, HarlequinsJonny May, Gloucester RugbyAlex Mitchell, Northampton Saints*Ollie Thorley, Gloucester Rugby*Ben Youngs, Leicester Tigers ForwardsJack Clement, Gloucester Rugby*Alex Dombrandt, Harlequins*Ellis Genge, Leicester TigersJamie George, SaracensJoe Heyes, Leicester Tigers*Maro Itoje, SaracensSimon Kerrod, Harlequins*Lewis Ludlow, Gloucester Rugby*Alex Moon, Northampton Saints*David Ribbans, Northampton Saints*Jack Singleton, Gloucester RugbyBilly Vunipola, SaracensMako Vunipola, SaracensMark Wilson, Newcastle Falcons

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips; Editing by Ken Ferris)