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Rugby Union

Robinson to captain England

01/05/2007

Sale Sharks winger Jason Robinson has been named the England captain for the pre-World Cup summer tour to South Africa.

Mike Catt, many people's choice to take the skipper's armband, has not been considered for the tour because of injury while several other high-profile players also miss out because they are unfit – including Mark Cueto, Charlie Hodgson, Andrew Sheridan and Mike Tindall.

Among those that do make the plane are four fellow members of England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad - Jonny Wilkinson, Ben Cohen, Andy Gomarsall and Mark Regan.

There are also seven uncapped players in the squad – Mike Brown, Matt Cairns, Peter Buxton, Darren Crompton, Dean Schofield, Roy Winters and Nick Wood – although no players from Leicester, Wasps or Bath have been considered because of club commitments for the European Trophy and Heineken Cup finals.

This could be a significant blow to England's pack – which was made up entirely of Wasps and Leicester players in the last international.

On his decision to hand Robinson the role as skipper, head coach Brian 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 Six Nations that he was back to his top form again."

Robinson himself 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."

The squad leaves for South Africa in two weeks' time, with the first match of the two-Test tour against the Springboks in Bloemfontein on May 26th. That game is followed by the second scheduled fixture against the hosts in Pretoria on June 2nd.

Full 30-man England squad for tour to South Africa:

Forwards:
Alex Brown (Gloucester), Peter Buxton (Gloucester), Matt Cairns (Saracens), Darren Crompton (Bristol), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Andy Hazell (Gloucester), Chris Jones (Sale Sharks), Magnus Lund (Sale Sharks), Mark Regan (Bristol), Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors), Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks), Andy Titterrell (Sale Sharks), Stuart Turner (Sale Sharks), Roy Winters (Bristol), Nick Wood (Gloucester), Kevin Yates (Saracens).
Backs:
Anthony Allen (Gloucester), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints), Andy Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons), Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins), Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), Shaun Perry (Bristol), Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks; captain), Peter Richards (Gloucester), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), David Strettle (Harlequins), Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons).

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