Eddie Jones turns to Vunipola as Australia tour squad named

England have turned to Billy Vunipola as the solution to their crisis at number eight after Eddie Jones recalled the powerful Saracens forward for next month’s tour to Australia.

Injuries to Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds have opened the door for Vunipola to make his first international appearance since last year’s Six Nations.

The 29-year-old had not appeared in an England squad until Jones named his 36-man touring party to face the Wallabies over three Tests, starting in Perth on Saturday week.

England have turned to Billy Vunipola as the solution to their crisis at number eight after Eddie Jones recalled the powerful Saracens forward for next month’s tour to Australia.

Injuries to Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds have opened the door for Vunipola to make his first international appearance since last year’s Six Nations.

The 29-year-old had not appeared in an England squad until Jones named his 36-man touring party to face the Wallabies over three Tests, starting in Perth on Saturday week.

Vunipola was knocked out in the closing stages of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final defeat by Leicester and a day later Jones suggested he would not be able to tour because of the head injury. He will compete with Tom Curry for the number eight jersey.

Joe Marler and Ben Youngs are notable absentees from the group that will depart for Australia on Tuesday, but veteran scrum-half Danny Care is present as he nudges closer to winning his first cap since 2018.

London Irish’s 19-year-old sensation Henry Arundell has been included after missing Sunday’s rout by the Barbarians because of a muscle strain, although he has been denoted as an ‘apprentice player’.

Jones said: “Though we have nine players unavailable due to injury, we have picked a very strong squad capable of winning the series. This squad is a real mix of young, talented players and some very experienced, senior players and we’re looking forward to bring the group together.

“This tour will be a great experience for the group and a crucial part of the team’s work towards the Rugby World Cup in 2023. We will continue to develop the base of the squad and how we want to play.

“We’ve put a lot of work into preparation for the tour over the past few weeks but now the hard work really begins when we finally get the squad on the plane and to Australia.”

FORWARDS

Ollie Chessum

Luke Cowan-Dickie

Tom Curry

Charlie Ewels

Ellis Genge

Jamie George

Joe Heyes

Jonny Hill

Nick Isiekwe

Maro Itoje

Courtney Lawes

Lewis Ludlam

Bevan Rodd

Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)

Will Stuart

Sam Underhill

Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 61 caps)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 67 caps)

Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)

Jack Willis (Wasps, 3 caps)

BACKS

Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped) *apprentice player

Danny Care (Harlequins, 84 caps)

Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)

Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

Owen Farrell

Tommy Freeman

George Furbank

Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped) *apprentice player

Joe Marchant

Jonny May

Jack Nowell

Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Harry Randall

Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Marcus Smith

Freddie Steward

Unavailable for selection due to injury: Alex Dombrandt, George Ford, Joe Launchbury, Louis Lynagh, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Nic Dolly and Anthony Watson.