England and Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has lost his fitness race and will miss the Rugby World Cup.
Steve Borthwick named his 41-man official training squad this morning and confirmed the former Exeter star had run out of time.
Zach Mercer, player of the year in France’s Top-14 just a year ago, is the surprise omission - particularly given injury concerns for fellow No.8 Billy Vunipola and Sam Simmonds decision to miss the tournament.
The names of Ollie Chessum, Ollie Lawrence, Mako Vunipola, brother Billy and Jack Walker are also missing as they continue to rehabilitate from injuries and Borthwick insists all are still in the reckoning for squad selection on August 7.
Cowan-Dickie’s race is run however and Borthwick said: “Despite all his incredible work and progress, Luke’s shoulder has not improved sufficiently for him to be considered for selection for the World Cup.”
The squad, which has a total of 1,519 England caps, includes five uncapped players: the Premiership’s top tryscorer, Cadan Murley, Tom Pearson, Theo Dan, Val Rapava-Ruskin and Jack Willis’ brother,. Tom.
"We’re excited to be able to bring a full training squad together for the first time and focus on the next stage of our World Cup preparations,” said Borthwick.
“I am pleased with the balance of the squad, which blends experience with youth.
“Our preparation camps over the last three weeks haveallowed those players who didn’t feature in thePremiership final to start to get physically equipped for a World Cup campaign.
“The attitude of the players has been excellent, and I have seen a group who have wholeheartedly committed to what we have asked of them.
“We hope today’s announcement is the start of something special for our supporters, who I know are eagerly anticipating the tournament as much as we are.”
England’s official Rugby World Cup 2023 training squad
Forwards (23)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)
Theo Dan (Saracens, uncapped)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 77 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 67 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 79 caps)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)
Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 10 caps)
Tom Willis (Bordeaux Bègles, uncapped)
Backs (18)
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 7 caps)
Danny Care (Harlequins, 87 caps)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 57 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 106 caps)
George Ford (Sale Sharks, 81 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 18 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 15 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 72 caps)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 56 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 21 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 51 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps)
Rehabilitation (5)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 79 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 3 caps)
