England has announced a 27-man training squad including 13 capped internationals for the traditional end-of-season challenge against the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 1. The squad was named by elite Rugby Directory and Tour Manager Rob Andrew. The squad doesn’t comprise of many internationals due to Guinness Premiership and European Challenge Cup Final commitments.

“We’ve picked a very strong England squad to prepare for the match against the Barbarians with all the players selected for the training week travelling with either the England senior team or the Saxons this summer,” Andrew said.

“There are a lot of caps amongst the backs and with so many forwards tied up with their clubs in the Guinness Premiership and European Challenge Cup finals, a number of players in the Saxons squad will have their opportunity to put a marker down for future senior team selection” he added.

Charlie Hodgson and Toby Flood will provide the fly-half options in a squad which features a mix of players heading to New Zealand on the senior England tour and those playing for the Saxons at the Barclays Churchill Cup.

Preliminary England squad to play the Barbarians at Twickenham

Forwards: A Clarke (Bristol), N Easter (Harlequins), T Guest (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), J Hobson (Bristol), S Hooper (Leeds Carnegie), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Kennedy (London Irish), N Lloyd (Saracens), L Narraway (Gloucester), D Paice (London Irish), C Robshaw (Harlequins), W Skinner (Harlequins), D Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).

Backs: A Allen (Gloucester), M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), T Flood (Newcastle Falcons), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), U Monye (Harlequins), J Noon (Newcastle Falcons), T Ojo (London Irish), P Richards (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tait (Newcastle Falcons), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks).

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