England have made several changes to the squad to play the Barbarians in the Tibco Challenge on 28 May at Twickenham and the Churchill Cup trip to North America.
Mike Tindall, who has signed a three-year contract with the Kingsholm club, is having surgery to his right shoulder (on Monday) and will be out for three months and consequently unavailable to be part of the England squads for the Barbarians week or the Churchill Cup tour to Canada. The England centre will be eyeing a return to action in Gloucester's pre-season schedule. He is replaced by Ayoola Erinle of London Wasps.
Prop Phil Vickery, who fractured his right forearm in February, is still not fully recovered from the injury. As a consequence he will not take part in the game against the Barbarians or the Churchill Cup. He is replaced in both squads by Robbie Morris of Northampton Saints.
Gloucester's James Simpson-Daniel and James Forrester continue in the squad, and will team up with Andy Gomarsall, who leaves Kingsholm for Worcester this summer, and another new recruit Peter Richards.
England and Bath back Olly Barkley sustained an injury to his right shoulder during the Bath v Leeds Tykes Premiership game on 30th April. His place in the England XV to play the Barbarians will now be taken by Sam Vesty of Leicester Tigers.
Also no longer taking part in the Tibco Challenge at Twickenham will be Chris Bell of Leeds Tykes, as he has not as yet fully recovered from a recent shoulder arthroscopy. Both Bell and Barkley are still to tour if fit. Perry Freshwater is unavailable for the Barbarians game due to club commitments.
Bath hooker Lee Mears is to replace his London Wasps counterpart, Phil Greening, in both squads. After taking part in the Zurich Premiership final on saturday against Leicester Tigers, it was felt Greening needed further rest to an ongoing injury to his left foot.
Magnus Lund, flanker for Sale Sharks, comes into both squads to replace England and Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell. It was announced last week that the 27 year-old open-side flanker, Hazell, has been advised by medical experts to rest after he suffered symptoms of concussion during the Gloucester v Saracens match on 30th April. Newcastle Falcons' Micky Ward was also called up earlier.
Erinle, Vesty, Lund, Mears and Morris will now join the England squads for both the Barbarians and Churchill Cup games.
ENGLAND SQUAD FOR BARBARIANS WEEK
CHUTER George - Leicester Tigers
CUETO, Mark - Sale Sharks
DEACON, Louis - Leicester Tigers
ERINLE, Ayoola - London Wasps
FORRESTER, James - Gloucester
GOMARSALL, Andy - Gloucester (Vice Captain)
GOODE, Andy - Leicester Tigers
HOOPER, Stuart - Leeds Tykes
JONES, Chris -Sale Sharks
LUND, Magnus - Sale Sharks
MEARS, Lee - Bath
MONYE, Ugo - NEC Harlequins
MORRIS, Robbie - Northampton Saints
NOON, Jamie - Newcastle Falcons
PALMER, Tom - Leeds Tykes
RICHARDS, Peter - London Wasps
SACKEY, Paul - London Wasps
SANDERSON, Pat - Worcester Warriors (Captain)
SIMPSON-DANIEL, James - Gloucester
TAIT, Mathew - Newcastle Falcons
VESTY, Sam - Leicester Tigers
VOYCE, Tom - London Wasps
VYVYAN, Hugh - Saracens
WARD, Micky - Newcastle Falcons
WORSLEY, Mike - NEC Harlequins
