Wigan call-ups to miss out on 34-man England squad
- Published
England have named 14 uncapped players in a 34-man training squad to meet at Loughborough University on 15 June.
However, Wigan's nine call-ups are unavailable to attend the training camp because of their Super League fixture against Widnes Vikings on 18 June.
Castleford's Craig Huby and Daryl Clark plus St Helens's Alex Walmsley, Kyle Amor, Jonny Lomax and Tommy Makinson all come into Steve McNamara's squad.
Catalans back-row Elliott Whitehead and Hull KR's Josh Hodgson are also named.
Hull FC's Joe Westerman moves up from the Knights squad, while Wigan's John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Matty Smith, Dan Sarginson and Scott Taylor are also yet to receive their senior debuts at international level.
Leeds Rhinos full-back Zak Hardaker is named, a day after the RFL opened an investigation into alleged homophobic remarks made during the Super League defeat by Warrington.
The camp is intended to give McNamara an opportunity to assess much of the squad that featured at last autumn's World Cup and take a closer look at some of Super League's in-form talent.
However, Wigan coach Shaun Wane has been forced to withdraw his players with a run of three league and cup games in eight days.
Wane told BBC Radio Manchester: "It's like an Easter period for us so we'll be looking after the players.
"If there's any player that can't play the week before or the week after that camp, they can go and join the camp because it will be of great benefit for them.
"My main priority is getting three wins for Wigan and making sure I look after my players."
England next play in this autumn's Four Nations tournament,, external starting against Samoa on 25 October.
England squad
Daryl Clark, Craig Huby, Michael Shenton (all Castleford Tigers), Elliott Whitehead (Catalan Dragons); Leroy Cudjoe, Brett Ferres (all Huddersfield Giants); Joe Westerman (Hull FC); Josh Hodgson (Hull Kingston Rovers); Carl Ablett, Tom Briscoe, Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker, Kevin Sinfield, Kallum Watkins, Jamie Jones-Buchanan (all Leeds Rhinos); Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson, James Roby, Alex Walmsley, Kyle Amor (all St Helens); Chris Hill, Richard Myler, Stefan Ratchford, Ben Westwood, Chris Bridge (all Warrington Wolves); John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Josh Charnley, Liam Farrell, Michael McIlorum, Sean O'Loughlin, Dan Sarginson, Scott Taylor, Matty Smith (all Wigan Warriors).
- Published21 May 2019