Pennell and Cipriani included in England squad for New Zealand tour
Worcester full-back Chris Pennell has won his first England call-up for the three-Test tour of New Zealand next month, with Danny Cipriani included for the first time since 2008.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster has named seven uncapped players in a 30-man initial squad to fly to New Zealand on Tuesday, to compete for selection for the first Test on June 7, but Bath's Anthony Watson misses out entirely after suffering suspected hamstring trouble in Friday night's Amlin Challenge Cup final.
Front-row quartet Kieran Brookes, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Gray and Dave Ward, Leicester lock Ed Slater and Gloucester centre Henry Trinder complete the uncapped group of tourists, with an extra group of players to be named on June 2 following the Aviva Premiership final.
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 (Bath Rugby) 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 May 27 (arrive May 29)
Loose-head props
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (London Wasps)
Tight-head props
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Hookers
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Dave Ward (Harlequins)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
Locks
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Back rows
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Scrum halves
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Fly halves
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
Centres
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Back threes
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
Marland Yarde (London Irish)
England squad for Barbarians game:
Loose-head props
Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
Tight-head props
Will Collier (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinkler (Harlequins)
Hookers
Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks)
Locks
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Matthews (Harlequins)
Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks)
Back rows
Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Gibson (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Wallace (Harlequins)
Scrum halves
Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Fly half
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Centres
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Back threes
Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
Rob Miller (Sale Sharks)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
England New Zealand tour
Saturday, June 7: 1st Test - Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, June 14: 2nd Test - Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Tuesday, June 17: Crusaders - AMI (Addington) Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday, June 21: 3rd Test - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
England XV v Barbarians
Sunday, June 1: Twickenham Stadium, 3pm