Jones recalls Hartley to England squad

Eddie Jones recalled controversial hooker Dylan Hartley for the upcoming Six Nations when the Australian named his first squad as England coach on Wednesday.
Hartley was included in a 33-man squad having missed hosts England's woeful World Cup campaign after former coach Stuart Lancaster dropped him from the squad on disciplinary grounds.

Ten players who were in the World Cup squad missed out on former Australia and Japan boss Jones's initial England selection, with the absences leaving the squad without nearly 300 caps worth of experience.

Tom Youngs, Brad Barritt, Tom Wood, Geoff Parling, Nick Easter, David Wilson, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Morgan and Rob Webber were all omitted, with Sam Burgess having returned to rugby league.

The most high-profile casualty was Leicester hooker Youngs, capped 28 times by England.

New Zealand-born Hartley, 29, has missed more than a year of his career through a combination of bans and suspensions.

The 66-time capped front row forward recently returned to club action with Northampton following a concussion injury.

Nevertheless, Hartley has been spoken of as a possible England captain.

But with Jones's first match as England coach the Six Nations opener away to Scotland on February 6, the former Australia and Japan handler opted against announcing a captain on Wednesday.

Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw, England's much criticised captain at a World Cup where they went out in the first round, was included in the squad.

As well as Hartley, Jones recalled wing Chris Ashton and centre Manu Tuilagi -- like Hartley dropped by Lancaster on disciplinary grounds -- after both backs missed the World Cup.

However, with Tuilagi still recovering from a groin injury, Bath's Ollie Devoto was included as cover for the Leicester powerhouse.
Devoto was one of seven uncapped players picked by Jones with the others including Wasps centre Elliot Daly and Sale back-row forward Josh Beaumont -- the son of England's 1980 Grand Slam-winning captain Bill.

"We will be without Manu for the Scotland game but we will continue to work with Leicester and Manu and see where he is as the Six Nations progresses," Jones said.

- World domination -

Meanwhile he insisted his sole aim for the time being was on England beating Scotland, although he wanted the team to become the "most dominant" in world rugby.

"We have selected a squad of players who we think can go to Murrayfield and win," Jones said. "This is our number one priority, to start with a win.

"The long-term strategy for England is to develop a side who can be the most dominant team in world rugby, so we have chosen a lot of new players on the growth we see in them."

England squad

Backs

Back three: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Anthony Watson (Bath), Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

Centres: Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ollie Devoto (Bath) (injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi, Leicester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Sam Hill (Exeter) (injury replacement for Henry Slade, Exeter)

Fly-halves: Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath)

Scrum-halves: Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

Forwards

Back-rows: Josh Beaumont (Sale), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester) (injury replacement for Dave Ewers, Exeter), Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Locks: Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton)

Props: Dan Cole (Leicester), Paul Hill (Northampton), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Henry Thomas (Bath) (injury replacement for Kieran Brookes, Northampton), Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Hookers: Luke Cowan Dickie (Exeter), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton)

England Six Nations fixtures:

Feb 06: v Scotland (a)

Feb 14: v Italy (a)

Feb 27: v Ireland (h)

Mar 12: v Wales (h)

Mar 19: v France (a)
Source :AFP