5:15pm Thursday 9th July 2009
FIVE Wasps players have been named in England’s Senior Elite Player Squad with a further seven being selected in the second-string Saxons squad.
Returning Lions Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley and Tim Payne have all been included in Martin Johnson’s 32-man premier squad along with Adams Park clubmate Tom Rees.
But there is no place for Danny Cipriani.
The 21-year-old Wasps fly half has nosedived down the ranks under Johnson over the last 12 months and his exile from the biggest stage continues with him getting a Saxons call instead, while Toulon-bound fly half Jonny Wilkinson gets a surprising recall.
Cipriani is not the only notable exception from the Elite party.
The selectors swung another surprise with the omission of his Wasps team-mate wing Paul Sackey.
They have both been named in the Saxons instead.
And they will have plenty of familiar company there with seven Wasps named.
George Skivington, Dan Ward-Smith, Rob Webber, Joe Simpson and Dominic Waldouck are also included.
But there is no place on either list for former Wasp James Haskell who has paid the price for his move across the Channel to Stade Francais.
England’s first training camp will start on August 9 in preparation for the November trilogy against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.
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