England: Ten uncapped players in training squad for NZ tour

Ten uncapped players, including four from Exeter, have been named in a 20-man England training squad ahead of the forthcoming tour to New Zealand.

The Exeter four are Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers, Sam Hill and Henry Slade.

Sale's Danny Cipriani is in the England set-up for the first time since 2008. More players will be added from the six clubs still to finish their seasons.

Training squad members are in with a shot at the tour and the Barbarians game, but are not guaranteed places.

The final squads for the trip to New Zealand and the Barbarians match will be announced on Monday, 26 May.

The match against the Baa-Baas takes place on 1 June at Twickenham before the squad travel to New Zealand in two groups - the first on 27 May and the second on 2 June following the Premiership final and Barbarians game.

England play the first of their three Tests against the All Blacks on Saturday, 7 June.

Cipriani, 26, returns to the England set-up following an impressive season with Sale and his selection reflects the player's growing maturity, according to England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Danny Cipriani is back in contention for an England place following a six-year absence.

"I don't view it as a risk bringing a player into an international team," said Lancaster. "It's pretty important that he's matured as a person."

He added: "I have coached Danny more than most because for the majority of the time when I was Saxons coach he was in the squad.

"I have a pretty good understanding of how he works. The club have done a fantastic job to develop him and make him more rounded and mature as a person."

BBC Radio 5 live rugby correspondent Ian Robertson said of Cipriani: "Depending on the availability of number 10s for first Test, he could be included in the matchday squad."

Cipriani, who has been capped seven times, tweeted: "Nothing makes me more proud to have the opportunity to represent my country again. The hard work starts now!"

Along with the Exeter quartet, the other uncapped players selected are Newcastle prop Kieran Brookes, New Zealand-born forward Michael Paterson and Sale team-mate Tommy Taylor, Worcester full-back Chris Pennell and the Gloucester pair of scrum-half Dan Robson and centre Henry Trinder.

"The New Zealand tour and the game against the Barbarians give us a chance to look at a wide group of players, some of whom are well known to us from the elite player squad, others who we will get to work with for the first time next week," added Lancaster.

The training squad only includes players from clubs who have finished their season, with Bath, Harlequins, Leicester, Wasps, Northampton and Saracens still in action in either domestic or European competition.

The Premiership semi-finals and final take place on 17-18 May and 31 May respectively, while the Amlin Challenge Cup final and Heineken Cup final are on 23 and 24 May respectively.

Wasps play their European Rugby Champions Cup play-off over two legs on 18 May and 24 May.

England training squad:

Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors), Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Marland Yarde (London Irish).