England Rugby World Cup squad announcement LIVE: Eddie Jones names final team for Japan 2019
Follow the latest updates from Bristol where England head coach Jones will explain his final 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from England’s Rugby World Cup squad announcement as Eddie Jones names his final 31-man squad for Japan 2019.
The England head coach has made a number of bold decisions, including Piers Francis at the expense of the dropped Ben Te'o and naming Ruaridh McConnochie, Willi Heinz, Lewis Ludlam and Jack Singleton in the side despite the quartet having just three caps between them - all of them from the victory over Wales yesterday.
Owen Farrell is confirmed as the World Cup captain in a squad that features 17 forwards and 14 backs, with Harry Williams, Ben Spencer, Brad Shields and Danny Cipriani also omitted. Follow the live news below.
What time does it start?
The England squad announcement will be made at 1pm.
When will Eddie Jones speak?
The England head coach will face the media at 3pm to explain his selection decisions.
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's England Rugby World Cup squad announcement, where Eddie Jones will name his 31-man squad that will travel to Japan next month.
The England head coach is the first of the tier one nation coaches to name his final World Cup squad, with the deadline for teams to be submitted not until 8 September.
Buit Jones is keen to rid the squad of any doubts over their selection, meaning the team are off to Bristol this morning for the big unveiling - which takes place at 1pm.
Following that, Jones will speak to the media at 3pm to explain each decision, with the side coming fresh off the back of Sunday's warm-up victory over Wales.
Join us from midday where we'll begin our full build-up to the selection announcement.
We're all set up and ready to go in Bristol, where England are announcing their World Cup squad at Henbury School just one day after their opening warm-up match.
How much will that victory over Wales impact selection? Well not a great deal, if what we're hearing proves true, and we'll bring you all of the latest rumours surrounding the squad over the next hour ahead of the 1pm announcement.
For those wanting to hear from Eddie Jones - and trust me, we're very much in that party - we're hoping to get a few words from the England head coach at 1pm, before a full press conference that we'll bring you at 3pm.
So settle yourself in for a long old afternoon.
The Independent understands that Ben Spencer has been omitted after failing to impress Eddie Jones during England’s six-week training camp.
On the contrary, Willi Heinz has been one of the breakthrough players of the summer after displaying strong leadership skills and finding his feet immediately on his Test debut on Sunday in the win over Wales.
Heinz has impressed Jones so much that he was named vice-captain for the 33-19 victory at Twickenham, despite the 32-year-old having not played internationally before the opening Rugby World Cup warm-up.
It means that Jones will take just two No 9s to Japan, with natural fly-half George Ford set to provide emergency cover if needed, and will require both Youngs and Heinz to be involved in all seven matches if England were to go all the way to World Cup final.
It’s also understood that fly-half Danny Cipriani has been left out, with the 31-year-old yet to return to Gloucester for pre-season training after being cut from the England squad before their 12-day heat camp in Treviso last month.
The squad is in, and we have one of the most surprising squad selections seen under Eddie Jones' reign.
Get ready for this...
England Rugby World Cup squad:
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps) **
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 37 caps) *
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27 caps)
George Kruis (Saracens, 32 caps) *
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 59 caps) *
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 72 caps) **
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 58 caps) *
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Jack Singleton (Saracens, 1 cap)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 42 caps) *
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps) *
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons / Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
Backs
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 31 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70 caps) *
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 56 caps) *
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 41 caps) *
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps) *
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps) *
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps) *
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps) *
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 34 caps) *
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps) **
* denotes World Cup tournaments played
This is quite astonishing from the England head coach.
He will be taking three players with one international cap each to Japan, and a fourth player with no caps whatsoever in 15-a-side rugby.
Having featured heavily in recent years, Ben Te'o, Harry Williams and Brad Shields are dumped at the final hurdle, coming as a huge shock given what the players that have replaced them.
As promised, we have our words from Eddie Jones ahead of his press conference appearance at 3pm.
“Today is another step in the progress towards the Rugby World Cup," said Jones. "We have taken the decision to go early because of what we learned from previous campaigns. We want the squad to know early and now we can get on and be the best prepared England side there has ever been, ready to win the World Cup.”
On the players not selected Jones added: “A lot of good players have missed out, we feel for them, I feel for them personally. But as we know the World Cup is an incredible tournament where opportunities can present themselves and all those players who have missed out have been told they have to be ready.”
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