Rugby Union: England retain veterans

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

WADE DOOLEY and Peter Winterbottom may be in the twilight of their international careers but they would still appear to have a part to play in England's short- term future.

The veteran forwards, who both gained their 50th caps in the spring as England completed a second successive Grand Slam, have been chosen in an expanded squad for a match against Leicester on 5 September, the opening day of the new season. The game is a warm-up for the internationals against Canada and South Africa this autumn.

England have also named a squad of 14 for the Selkirk Sevens on 29 August, which will give the selectors a chance to assess playing strength with next April's World Sevens at Murrayfield in mind.

ENGLAND SQUAD (v Leicester, 5 September): Backs: J Webb (Bath), I Hunter (Northampton), N Heslop (Orrell), T Underwood (Leicester), C Oti (Wasps), W Carling (Harlequins, capt), P de Glanville (Bath), J Guscott (Bath), D Hopley (Wasps), R Andrew (Toulouse), D Pears (Harlequins), S Barnes (Bath), R Hill (Bath), D Morris (Orrell). Forwards: J Probyn (Wasps), A Mullins (Harlequins), M Hynes (Orrell), J Leonard (Harlequins), V Ubogu (Bath), B Moore (Harlequins), J Olver (Northampton), M Bayfield (Northampton), W Dooley (Preston Grasshoppers), N Redman (Bath), T Rodber (Northampton), S Ojomoh (Bath), B Clarke (Bath), D Ryan (Wasps), *D Richards (Leicester), P Winterbottom (Harlequins), *N Back (Leicester). * will play for Leicester

ENGLAND SQUAD (for Selkirk Sevens, 29 August): Backs: W Carling (Harlequins, capt), P de Glanville (Bath), J Guscott (Bath), A Harriman (Harlequins), D Hopley (Wasps), I Hunter (Northampton), D Morris (Orrell), D Pears (Harlequins), D Scully (Wakefield), T Underwood (Leicester). Forwards: J Cassell (Saracens), B Clarke (Bath), C Sheasby (Harlequins), P Winterbottom (Harlequins).