England Squad Announced to Tour South Africa 2007

Ashton said: “Jason has captained England before and we need someone with international captaincy experience. He’s well respected by all the other players and he proved in the RBS 6 Nations that he was back to his top form again.”

Robinson said: “I am delighted to be appointed captain of England again for the forthcoming games in South Africa. I thoroughly enjoyed my previous spell as captain and am looking forward to the trip as I have never played there before.”

Robinson is joined by fellow 2003 Rugby World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), Mark Regan (Bristol Rugby), Andy Gomarsall (NEC Harlequins) and Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints).

There are seven uncapped players in props Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby) and Darren Crompton (Bristol Rugby), back row Peter Buxton (Gloucester Rugby), locks Roy Winters (Bristol Rugby) and Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks), Saracens hooker Matt Cairns and full-back Mike Brown (NEC Harlequins).

Ashton added: “If you look at some of the experienced characters as well as some of the younger players who have recently appeared on the international scene it’s an interesting mixture.

“It’s going to be an enormous challenge for these players. We are under no illusions - it is going to be an incredibly tough two-and-a-half weeks but I don’t expect any of the players or management to back down from that challenge.”

Players from London Wasps, Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby were not considered because of their participation in European finals on May 19 and 20, Perry Freshwater because of Perpignan commitments, while eight players are unavailable through injury (listed below).

Ashton added: “Shane Geraghty (London Irish, hamstring) has not played since March 24 and it would be nine weeks come the first test so it would be highly unlikely that he would start. I have chatted to him and we felt that it was best that he play for England Saxons in the Barclays Churchill Cup and get some games under his belt here this summer.”

England squad for South Africa Tour 2007

Forwards
Alex Brown (Gloucester Rugby)
Peter Buxton (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Cairns (Saracens)
Darren Crompton (Bristol Rugby)
Nick Easter (NEC Harlequins)
Andy Hazell (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Jones (Sale Sharks)
Magnus Lund (Sale Sharks)
Mark Regan (Bristol Rugby)
Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors)
Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks)
Andy Titterrell (Sale Sharks)
Stuart Turner (Sale Sharks)
Roy Winters (Bristol Rugby)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
Kevin Yates (Saracens)

Backs
Anthony Allen (Gloucester Rugby)
Mike Brown (NEC Harlequins)
Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints)
Andy Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons)
Andy Gomarsall (NEC Harlequins)
Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)
Shaun Perry (Bristol Rugby)
Jason Robinson (capt, Sale Sharks)
Peter Richards (Gloucester Rugby)
James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby)
David Strettle (NEC Harlequins)
Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons)
Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons)

Not considered because of injury: Mike Catt (London Irish, right buttock), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks, left calf), James Forrester (Gloucester Rugby, right knee), Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks, right knee), Olly Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, right shoulder), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks, left knee), Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby, right leg), Dan Ward-Smith (Bristol Rugby, left knee).

Not considered because of club commitments: Players from London Wasps and Leicester Tigers (Heineken Cup finalists), Bath Rugby (European Challenge Cup finalists) and Perry Freshwater (Perpignan).

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