Alex Goode and Joel Tomkins withdraw from England squad
- Published
Saracens pair Alex Goode and Joel Tomkins have withdrawn from England's three-match summer tour to Uruguay and Argentina because of injury.
They will also miss Sunday's match against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Coach Stuart Lancaster has called up uncapped Northampton Saints backs Luther Burrell, 25, and Stephen Myler, 28, as replacements.
They will join up with England after the Premiership final against Leicester on Saturday.
Lancaster said: "Both played well in the second half of the season and they've both got a great opportunity to put a marker down for the future on tour in Uruguay and Argentina.
"Our commiserations go to Alex Goode and Joel Tomkins. It's disappointing that they have to miss out but they have both had excellent seasons and I am sure they will be back in contention next season."
Goode has been ruled out of the tour with a shoulder injury while Tomkins has an ankle complaint.
England captain Chris Robshaw is being rested for the tour so flanker Tom Wood leads a youthful party that now includes 12 uncapped players.
Toby Flood, Danny Care, Brad Barritt and Chris Ashton are also rested while James Haskell was not considered on medical grounds.
England have also called up Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Haydn Thomas and Sale Sharks lock Kearnan Myall, who are both uncapped, to the squad preparing to face the Barbarians on 26 May, when they will field a team without players who feature in the Premiership final on the previous day.
"Tom Wood will captain the side and I am sure he will do a fantastic job, as he has the respect of all the players and management and we are looking forward to other leaders developing in the absence of some senior players," Lancaster said when he announced the squad earlier this month.
With the Lions selecting 10 England players and several senior internationals rested, Lancaster is using the tour to examine his options - and four of the players in the squad are 21 or under.
Forwards Matt Kvesic, Ed Slater, Henry Thomas and Billy Vunipola get their chance as well as a handful of exciting young backs including Christian Wade, Jonny May, Kyle Eastmond and Marland Yarde.
Lancaster added: "We're really looking forward to this tour and we've selected a young and exciting side which I'm sure will do the country proud in a tough series of matches.
"The key principles in selection were threefold: first and foremost to win the games but also to develop strength in depth and more options in certain positions, and to give one or two players a physical and mental break.
"We feel we've got the balance right and have given places to a number of players who have shone in the Aviva Premiership this season, one or two who have been on the fringes for a while, and several players who have been involved over the last year or so. This is everyone's chance to step up. "
England squad:
Forwards: Dave Attwood (Bath), Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), David Paice (London Irish), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), Henry Thomas (Sale), Billy Vunipola (London Wasps), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton, captain).
Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Ben Foden (Northampton), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Jonny May (Gloucester), David Strettle (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Christian Wade (London Wasps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Marland Yarde (London Irish), Luther Burrell (Northampton), Stephen Myler (Northampton).
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