Johnson picks Sale Sharks trio for England Summer tour
May 20th, 2009 Posted in General, Sale Sharks
England Team Manager, Martin Johnson has announced a strong 34 man squad for England’s 2009 summer tour, which includes matches against the Barbarians at Twickenham stadium on May 30 (kick off 4.15pm), Argentina at Old Trafford June 6 (kick off 4.00pm) and a return match with The Puma’s in Salta on June 13.
Sale Sharks trio, Mathew Tait, Mark Cueto and Richard Wigglesworth all make the England summer tour squad with Dean Schofield and Chris Jones picked for the England Saxons Churchill Cup squad.
The three game series sees the return of RWC winners Steve Thompson (CA Brive) and Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers) and six uncapped players, David Wilson and Tom May from Newcastle Falcons, Jordan Turner-Hall Harlequins and Chris Robshaw, Harlequins, Sam Vesty (Leicester Tigers) and Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby).
The England summer tour squad will be captained by Carlisle born Steve Borthwick (Saracens).
England Team Manager Martin Johnson said “This is a very strong squad full of a mixture of experience and young talent. I’m sure that any of the uncapped players will take the step up from the Saxons to the senior test arena if they are given the opportunity.
“I’m looking forward to all the games and the three day training camp this week, which will give us further invaluable time with the squad.”
Speaking about England’s match against Argentina on June 6 at Old Trafford Johnson said “The England squad are all looking forward to the chance of playing at Old Trafford. I have very special memories of the last time England played there in 1997 against New Zealand and I know that this squad, like all players, want the experience of testing themselves and playing at different stadia around the world for the first time. Old Trafford and Salta a week later in Argentina gives them a great opportunity to do that.
“I hope as many fans as possible turn up for the game at Old Trafford. Argentina are the home side but I hope England can continue the momentum of the back to back wins we had in the last two games of the 6 Nations and that we can give our fans a good send off before flying to Argentina on June 7 for the second test against the Puma’s.”
Also confirmed today was the 26 man England Saxons squad who will be defending the Churchill Cup in Denver, Colorado. It sees the return of Chris Jones, part of last year’s squad that lifted the title and Dean Schofield, who last played for the Saxons in the 2006 Six Nations match against Ireland, before making his test debut against South Africa in the summer of 2007.
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