Five Exeter Chiefs stars named in England's World Cup training squad

Thursday, 4 July 2019 15:34

By Sam Sterrett

Eddie Jones' side kick-start their World Cup campaign in September

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Moon, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Harry Williams are among the 35-strong group who will assemble at The Lensbury Hotel on Sunday for their first official training camp.

While not named in the initial 35-man squad Nowell will continue his rehabilitation in camp and is still considered for selection.

England head coach Eddie Jones said: “We can’t wait to have the full squad in place and to have players competing for those 31 places. It is a process of building the team up, building the cohesion, the tactical understanding of the team and our adaptability. We will need to get those things right to win the World Cup, and that is our aim.

"World Cup selection is a four-year process. We have looked at the squad carefully, tried to build up a squad that has enough experience, attitude and energy to be winners and I think we have that. In the process, we have left out some players who can feel unlucky. For those guys who have missed out, the door is never closed but they have just got to be ready, as you never know when the opportunity comes.

“The last two camps have been a head start for us. It has allowed the guys who didn’t play in the semi-finals or final to get some good conditioning work in and also some fundamental skill work so we expect them to set a high standard when the rest of the squad join us on July 7.

"The players have come in the best physical condition I have ever seen an England squad. The attitude of the players is that they are excited and hungry, they want to do well for themselves, their family and for their country."

England will begin their Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan against Tonga in Sapporo (22 September, KO 11:15am UK time) before playing USA Rugby in Kobe (26 September, KO 11:45am UK time), Argentina in Tokyo (5 October, KO 09:00am UK time) and our last pool opponents France in Yokohama (12 October, KO 09:15am UK time).

Five Exeter Chiefs stars named in England's World Cup training squad

Share

More from Exeter Chiefs