Former Huddersfield RUFC junior player Luther Burrell has been selected for England’s 35-man strong Six Nations squad.
The 26-year-old centre, who is currently playing with Aviva Premiership outfit Northampton Saints after spells at Leeds and Sale Sharks, had been expected to make the cut into head coach Stuart Lancaster’s group to prepare for the tournament which starts for England away to France on February 1.
However, Toby Flood’s England career looks officially over after George Ford was confirmed as his replacement in Lancaster’s Elite Player Squad.
Former Leicester playmaker Ford is the only change to Lancaster’s EPS, with Freddie Burns keeping his place alongside first-choice fly-half Owen Farrell.
England head coach Lancaster said: “We have kept changes to a minimum because we believe this squad can take us forward into 2015.
“I am delighted for George, who is rewarded for his form for Bath and we are excited about including him in the senior Elite Player Squad.”
Leicester fly-half Flood will join Toulouse in the summer, and England do not select overseas-based players.
So Lancaster has chosen to jettison the former Newcastle man now rather than in the summer. Flood’s England career therefore appears to be over after winning 60 caps, while former Leicester man Ford steps into the squad on a full-time basis.
Lancaster has made only one official change to his EPS, but eight England Saxons stars are set to make senior England appearances during the RBS 6 Nations.
With injury concerns surrounding a number of senior England men, Lancaster has taken the option to promote a host of second-string men.
Along with Burrell, Exeter duo Tom Johnson and Jack Nowell, Jonny May, from Gloucester, and Matt Mullan from Wasps are all among that eight. Leicester’s Ed Slater, Sale prop Henry Thomas and Bath’s young wing Anthony Watson complete the set.
Props Mullan and Thomas step up to cover David Wilson’s calf injury which could sideline him for a month, the majority of the Six Nations tournament.
Lancaster has promoted eight Saxons as cover for Manu Tuilagi, Tom Croft, Marland Yarde, Alex Corbisierio, Christian Wade, Geoff Parling and Ben Foden.
