Strong Bath Rugby showing in England squads for New Zealand and Barbarians

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Hooker Rob Webber has been passed fit to join four of his Bath Rugby team-mates in the England squad to tour New Zealand this summer.

Webber – who missed the last month of the season, including Friday’s Amlin Cup final defeat to Northampton Saints – will jet off down under on Tuesday along with Davey Wilson, Dave Attwood, Kyle Eastmond and Bath new boy Henry Thomas.

Anthony Watson could also be joining them in New Zealand next week should he recover from a hamstring injury sustained at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday.

He will be assessed after Sunday’s game against the Barbarians, where Bath will be represented by Nathan Catt, Jonathan Joseph, Ollie Devoto and Semesa Rokoduguni – the latter two in line for their senior international bows.

The 30 players who fly to Auckland on Tuesday will be available for the first Test at Eden Park on Saturday, June 7.

A further group will leave on Monday, June 2 following the Aviva Premiership final between Saracens and Northampton Saints plus Sunday’s England XV v Barbarians match at Twickenham.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We are excited about the squad we are taking to New Zealand and, while there continues to be challenges in selection, we will be well and truly ready for the 1st Test.

“It has a been good few days training and great to be able to work with a larger group of players in the lead up to the Barbarians game and the tour.

“With the Barbarians game and the Aviva Premiership final to come, we will make our final selection once we know the availability of all players. This group will fly out on the Monday following the Barbarians game.

“As is often the case there are some players unavailable through injury and it is a shame that recently both George Ford (Bath Rugby) and Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers) have had to withdraw due to shoulder and knee injuries sustained towards the end of the season.

“Anthony Watson is being treated for a hamstring injury and will continue his recovery in England before a final decision is made on whether he will join us in New Zealand on the Monday flight post Aviva final and Barbarians game.”

England squad flying to New Zealand on Tuesday, May 27

Forwards: Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Dave Ward (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (London Wasps), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins).

Backs: Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors), Marland Yarde (London Irish).

England squad for Barbarians game

Forwards: Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby), Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks), Will Collier (Harlequins), Kyle Sinkler (Harlequins), Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks), Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks), Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Jamie Gibson (Leicester Tigers), Luke Wallace (Harlequins).

Backs: Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (London Wasps), Rob Miller (Sale Sharks), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby).

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26876162

Strong Bath Rugby showing in England squads for New Zealand and Barbarians