Tom Curry and Courtney Lawes have handed England a double back-row boost ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff.
Sale flanker Curry and Northampton star Lawes have been included in a 36-man wider training squad to prepare for Saturday’s Principality Stadium encounter.
Curry has missed the start of the campaign with a hamstring problem but has fought back to fitness in time to bolster England’s back-row stocks.
Vice-captain Lawes missed England’s full autumn schedule with a head-injury problem, then picked up a gluteal issue before the start of the Six Nations.
Now the 96-cap back-five forward will be in line for his first appearance under new boss Steve Borthwick, having completed his recovery while staying with the England camp.
Sale fly-half Ford has not played for England since the 2022 Six Nations, having suffered a long-term absence due to an Achilles injury.
But the 29-year-old has replaced Fin Smith in England’s ranks, and will contest the fly-half role for the Wales trip.
London Irish’s Ollie Hassell-Collins has missed out on selection due to a knee injury, but Harlequins’ Cadan Murley is back in the squad, with Northampton’s Fraser Dingwall also included.
Manu Tuilagi misses out due to the ban that will be forthcoming after his red card in Sale’s 38-34 defeat at Northampton on Saturday.
ENGLAND SQUAD TO FACE WALES: FORWARDS: O Chessum, D Cole, T Curry, A Dombrandt, T Dunn, B Earl, E Genge, J George, N Isiekwe, M Itoje, C Lawes, L Ludlam, D Ribbans, B Rodd, S Simmonds, K Sinckler, W Stuart, M Vunipola, J Walker, J Willis. BACKS: H Arundell, F Dingwall, O Farrell, T Freeman, G Ford, O Lawrence, M Malins, J Marchant, A Mitchell, C Murley, H Slade, M Smith, F Steward, J Van Poortvliet, A Watson, B Youngs.
