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Rugby Union

Borthwick to lead England in New Zealand

13/05/2008

Bath lock forward Steve Borthwick has been named England captain for this summer's tour of New Zealand.

The second row has been selected in the absence of regular skipper Phil Vickery, who is out of action after suffering a knee ligament injury on club duty last month.

As many as six uncapped players have been named in the squad, including winger Topsy Ojo, hooker David Paice and lock Nick Kennedy - all London Irish players.

Another hooker, Dylan Hartley of Northampton, is named for the first time, as well as Bristol prop Jason Hobson, and Harlequins' highly-rated scrum-half Danny Care.

Wasps star Danny Cipriani is expected to feature heavily in the two-Test tour with fellow fly-half Jonny Wilkinson out injured.

Hooker Mark Regan, full-back Iain Balshaw and winger Lesley Vainikolo are all excluded after featuring in the Six Nations earlier this year, while injuries prevent Simon Shaw, Lewis Moody, Shane Geraghty and Toby Flood from being included.

Otherwise the squad is close to full strength, with world-class prop Andrew Sheridan, emerging flanker James Haskell and winger David Strettle all included.

Borthwick will be the first man to lead the team out under the new regime of Martin Johnson, who was named as the successor to former head coach Brian Ashton.

But his selection as skipper of the 32-man touring party was ratified by elite rugby director Rob Andrew, who has been asked to work closely with Johnson as he is in the early stages of his coaching career.

Full 32-man England squad to tour New Zealand:

Forwards

Steve Borthwick (Bath; captain)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Jason Hobson (Bristol)
Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Kennedy (London Irish)
Michael Lipman (Bath)
Lee Mears (Bath)
Luke Narraway (Gloucester)
David Paice (London Irish)
Tom Palmer (London Wasps)
Tim Payne (London Wasps)
Tom Rees (London Wasps)
Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
Matt Stevens (Bath)
Joe Worsley (London Wasps)

Backs

Olly Barkley (Bath)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Danny Cipriani (London Wasps)
Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons)
Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)
Topsy Ojo (London Irish)
Pete Richards (London Irish)
Paul Sackey (London Wasps)
David Strettle (Harlequins)
Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester)
Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)