Gloucester Rugby's Freddie Burns misses out on England duty

FREDDIE Burns has missed out on the England squad to play Fiji on November 10 but Gloucester team-mates Charlie Sharples and Ben Morgan have been called up.

With Saracens’ Charlie Hodgson retiring from international rugby, Burns was expected to be included for the game against the islanders with fixtures against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand following.

The Cherry and Whites’ stand-off has been in great form for his club, who are unbeaten in seven, but now he must settle for having to watch Morgan and Sharples.

Thirty-two players will meet at St George’s Park, Burton on Sunday, including James Haskell (London Wasps), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens) and Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers) who all promoted from the England Saxons Elite Player Squad as injury replacements for Tom Croft, Ben Foden, Alex Corbisiero and Rob Webber respectively.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “As a coaching team we can’t wait to go into camp and get the guys focused on what will be a massive challenge in the QBE Internationals – Fiji and then the three major Southern Hemisphere teams in successive weeks.

“We have been impressed with some of the rugby we have seen in the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup and are looking forward to the players bringing that form to Twickenham.

“It’s great to be able to give Mako a chance in the squad. He has come through our age grade sides and made a real impact at Saracens. Likewise Tom Youngs, who was with us on tour in South Africa, and we know what James Haskell and Ugo Monye are capable of if they get their opportunity.”

England will be at the Football Association’s new sports training and development centre from Sunday, October 28 to Thursday, November 1 before returning to their usual training base of Pennyhill Park, Bagshot on Sunday, November 4 ahead of the Test against Fiji.

Meanwhile, the England Saxons coaching team has been finalised, with John Fletcher joining as backs coach for the internationals against the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds and Scotland A in the New Year.

The former Newcastle Falcons boss returns to Kingston Park on Friday, February 1 for the match against the Scots, a week after the Saxons face the Wolfhounds in Ireland.

Fletcher, the England Under 18 Head Coach and RFU's Professional Player Development Manager, will join Head Coach Jon Callard, with Simon Hardy responsible for the forwards.

Callard said: "We are delighted to have John on board as we focus on winning two demanding games. His expertise working with a wide group of players makes him a perfect fit for England Saxons and he'll bring tremendous passion to the role."

ENGLAND SQUAD FOR QBE INTERNATIONALS

FORWARDS (17)

Mouritz Botha (Saracens)

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)

James Haskell (London Wasps)

Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)

Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)

Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Joe Marler (Harlequins)

Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)

Tom Palmer (London Wasps)

Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)

David Wilson (Bath Rugby)

Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

BACKS (15)

Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)

Chris Ashton (Saracens)

Brad Barritt (Saracens)

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Danny Care (Harlequins)

Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)

Owen Farrell (Saracens)

Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)

Alex Goode (Saracens)

Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)

Ugo Monye (Harlequins)

Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)

Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)

Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)