Declan Fitzpatrick and Mike Sherry are included up front while Simon Zebo is named in the backs as is Darren Cave, who won two caps on the North American tour in 2009.

There are a number of spaces left vacant with a further prop, second row, back row and scrum half to be added before the squad departs for New Zealand.

Brian O’Driscoll returns to the Ireland squad for the first time since the Rugby World Cup and has been confirmed as Captain for the tour.

Ireland Squad

(New Zealand Tour 2012, June 9th, 16th and 23rd):

Forwards (16):

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster)*
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena /Ulster)
A.N. Other
A.N. Other
A.N. Other

Backs (13):

Darren Cave ( Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
A.N. Other

*Denotes Uncapped Player

The England Counties today named their 26-man squad for next month’s three match tour to Uganda and Kenya.

Eleven counties and 15 clubs are represented within the squad which contains 12 debutants. 

Rob Baldwin (pictured) will captain the tour party, having led the side to a 34-16 victory over the Counties’ Irish counterparts, the Ulster Bank International Team, in March.  Nine other players featured in the spring international, whilst Jim Wigglesworth steps up after impressing for the England Counties U20s earlier this month.

The England Counties squad is the representative flagship of the county and community game and since being founded in 2002 has visited North and South America, Europe and the Far East.  Nine players have previous touring experience but the side will be treading new ground when they head to the African continent.

The squad assembles on the 1st June and the 17-day tour incorporates the largest tour outreach programme ever undertaken.  Working with the Tag Rugby Trust, the squad and management will carry out frequent coaching sessions and visits, aiming to raise the profile of rugby and leave a lasting legacy for the host unions.

The squad plays both Uganda and a combined East Africa side in Kampala before taking on the challenge of an East Africa Invitation XV in Nairobi.

Team Manager Michael Old said: “Selection has been particularly tough this year as the quality of players making themselves available for the County Championship continues to improve but we are very pleased with the final line up.

“Squad flexibility was a key consideration particularly in the specialist roles of prop, hooker and scrum half.  In the event of injury or illness we will not be able to fly replacements out so it was important to have experience across positions: props Jared Saunders and David Dickinson have played at hooker whilst hooker, Joe Bonner can switch to prop, and Jack Smales, a wing/full back, has played regularly at scrum half.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to the players on their selection and as with all ECXV tours it is hugely exciting to get a new group of players together to see what they can produce on the pitch; I would expect this squad to continue England Counties proud tour record and recent run of victories.

“The Ugandan and Kenyan Rugby Unions are looking forward to the prospect of having an England team on their soil.  During a recent visit, we saw the pace, skill and commitment of the countries’ players and they will be highly motivated to perform against us.

“The squad will be faced with playing challenges very different to their club and county games and the unpredictability of the opposition is one of the most exciting elements of touring for both players and coaches.  During the recce we also visited some of the schools and orphanages that we are going to be working with, together with the Tag Rugby Trust charity, and I am confident it will be a very rewarding and humbling experience for all involved as we make a positive impact on our East African hosts both on and off the pitch.”

England Counties Squad for Kenya and Uganda:

Forwards

Rob Baldwin*^ (Wharfedale & Yorkshire)

Joe Bonner (Blackheath & Kent)

Richard Boyle^(Newcastle Falcons & Northumberland)

James Cleverly (Blackheath & Kent)

David Dickinson* (Tynedale & Northumberland)

Billy Johnson (Unattached & Hertfordshire)

James Lindfield (Westcombe Park & Kent)

Dave Marwick (Stockport & Cheshire)

Louis McGowan*^ (Sedgley Park & Lancashire)

Ben Pons (Moseley & North Mids)

Gareth Rawlings (Fylde & Lancashire)

Jared Saunders (Saracens & Hertfordshire)

Craig Voisey^ (Moseley & North Mids)

Sam Wilkes* (Cinderford & Gloucestershire)

Backs

Chris Briers*^ (Fylde & Lancashire)

Will Burton (Luctonians & North Mids)

Phil Chesters* (Ealing & Devon)

Steve Hamilton^ (Unattached & Yorkshire)

Peter Hodgkinson*^ (Ealing & Cheshire)

Toby Howley-Berridge (Unattached & Eastern Counties)

Stefan Liebenberg* (Bedford & Hertfordshire)

Harry Peck*^ (Tynedale & Northumberland)

Jack Smales^ (Nevers & Northumberland)

Rory Teague (Cinderford & Gloucestershire)

Tom Wheatcroft* (Ealing & Warwickshire)

Jim Wigglesworth (Hull & Yorkshire)

Denotes

* Represented England Counties in Spring Internationals

^ Represented England Counties on previous tour

Stand by players to be called upon in the event of injury before departure:

Rob Schillachi^ (Hertford & Hertfordshire); Jamie Salter (Launceton & Cornwall); Chris Wearmouth*(Blaydon & Durham); Gavin Jones (Blaydon & Yorkshire); Philip Woodhead* (Wharfedale & Yorkshire); Tyson Lewis (Plymouth & Devon)

Match schedule

• Game 1: v Uganda in Kampala – Tuesday 5th June
• Game 2: v East Africa in Kampala – Saturday 9th June
• Game 3: v East Africa Invitation XV in Nairobi – Saturday 16th June

Another three of England’s emerging young players have joined the Harlequins Academy.  Jordan Burns, Harry Sloan and Henry Taylor will become full time members of one of the country’s leading Academies on 1stJuly.

Last week the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby confirmed that the Harlequins Academy had been assessed as one of best of the 14 Academies in England.

Jordan Burns (pictured), an 18-year-old who can play at scrum half or on the wing, joins from Epsom College. He originally joined the club’s Academy programme when he was 13. He represented England at Under 16 level and played at scrum half and on the wing for England Under 18 Clubs and Schools earlier this season.

Harry Sloan is a 17-year-old centre from Skinners School and first joined the club’s programme when he was 15. He has played for England Under 18 Clubs and Schools for the past two seasons.

Henry Taylor is an 18-year-old scrum half from Cranleigh School.  He joined the club’s Academy programme last year.  He has represented England Under 18 Clubs and Schools at scrum half for the past two years.

Commenting on the signing of the three players, Harlequins Academy Manager Tony Diprose said, “While it is encouraging to receive such a positive review from the RFU and Premiership Rugby, our Academy must continue to identify and bring through the next generation of talented players for Harlequins and England.

“16 of the club’s current professional squad are graduates of our Academy which speaks volumes for their commitment and talent,” Diprose continued,  “Our three new recruits have the potential to follow in the footsteps of players like Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown and Luke Wallace and we look forward to helping them realise their ambitions.”

The former England and Richmond scrum half is set to make her move into the English pack after being named at hooker for England’s uncapped game against France on Wednesday, kick off 6pm GMT, at the Jean Bouin Stadium in Marseille.

Switching from scrum-half to hooker in international rugby is an unusual move but for Turner the move isn’t that unique as she first started her rugby career in the Number two shirt.

Turner said: “I have always seen myself as a hooker falling into the scrum half position to be perfectly honest. I was not a scrum half who just wanted to try something new.

“Not many people will know this but I actually played all my junior rugby as a hooker. It just so happened then that our scrum half injured herself and I was the only player there who could consistently pass from the left and right so I stood in. From there I was asked to go to regional trials and it just sort of snow balled. I loved playing scrum half as I could kick the ball, pass and I could do whatever I wanted really, it was just that it was all rather accidental.

“I have always said to myself that when I achieved what I have done as a nine that I would give hooking another go. It’s comfortable and it feels right for me now. Looking ahead I have now got four years to go before the next world cup and my challenge is to be the best hooker in the world by then.”

The match will also mark a significant day for Turner who has not actually played international rugby since England’s defeat to New Zealand in the 2010 Rugby World Cup final. Since that defeat, the 27-year-old has been beset by injuries as well as having to make the transition to the front row and earn her honours in that position.

“After the world cup final I went back to premiership rugby and I expressed my intention to the England and Richmond coaches,” she added. “They were good about it but before I had a chance to make the move I injured myself playing sevens in Dubai. Initially, it was just going to be six weeks out and an operation and I knew I could deal with that. But then there were further complications as I injured myself again, and then again.  So I had to have another operation and basically I spent a year on the side-lines injured which was hugely frustrating.

“Throughout the year I was kept in the picture by the English coaches. The coaches were concerned that I might not be able to last a full 80 at hooker but I have been doing a lot of work on body positions, striking off the ball and working with Simon Hardy, the England Specialist Coach, and he has been awesome. We had a hooking camp recently with him and just being in an environment like that for two days was massively beneficial and now I am in with a shot.”

And if Turner can do enough to impress on Wednesday night, she is hoping that Head Coach Gary Street will make her dreams come true by giving her a starting cap at hooker against France on Saturday in the full international test match at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium in Chateaurenard.

“For me, I never got a starting cap at nine. I came off the bench for my first cap but it really would mean the world to me to start my first game at hooker but that is something quite rare. I may have 50 plus caps at scrum half, but now I see myself as not having any. If I get that starting cap at hooker I will be over the moon. That is the highest privilege as far as I am concerned. I am now more excited and more motivated than ever. I have got my teeth into a new position and I have a new hunger to my game.”

England team v France

15        Kay     Wilson            (Bristol)

14        Michaela        Staniford        (Wasps)

13        Georgina       Roberts          (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

12        Kimberley      Oliver  (Bristol)

11        Lydia  Thompson     (Worcester)

10        Ceri     Large  (Worcester)

9          Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

1          Rochelle        Clark   (Worcester)

2          Amy    Turner            (Richmond)

3          Rosemarie     Crowley         (Lichfield)

4          Harriet            Millar-Mills     (Lichfield)

5          Rowena         Burnfield       (Richmond)

6          Alexandra      Matthews       (Richmond)

7          Hannah         Gallagher      (Saracens)

8          Sarah Hunter            (Lichfield)

Replacements:

16        Victoria           Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

17        Laura  Keates            (Worcester)

18        Tamara           Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

19        Isobel Noel-Smith    (Bristol)

20        Rose   Jay      (Lichfield)

21        Sarah             McKenna       (Wasps)

22        Katherine      Merchant       (Worcester)

England Women Autumn International Series

• Nov 2nd France v England, Jean Bouin Stadium, Marseille, KO 6pm GMT
• Nov 5th France v England, Pierre de Coubertin Stadium at Chateaurenard, KO 2pm GMT
• Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5pm
• Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm
• Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm

Tickets for the game at Twickenham on November 26th are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk and group booking are available from the RFU by calling 0871 22 22 017, option 6. Prices range from £65 to £35. Junior tickets cost just £15.

Tickets for the international tests at Esher RFC on November 29th and December 3rd will be available on the gate and cost £10 for adults and £5 for juniors.

The Pirates welcome back fly-half Ceiron Thomas from injury, thus enabling Rob Cook to return to his accustomed full-back role, and James Doherty is named to skipper the side, taking over from club captain Gavin Cattle at scrum-half.

In the forwards, starting roles are handed to No. 8 Ben Maidment and lock Mike Myerscough, taking over from Blair Cowan and Laurie McGlone, whilst on the bench there’s a seat for centre Andrew Suniula, who has arrived in Cornwall this week after having experienced Rugby World Cup action playing for the USA in New Zealand.

The Cornish Pirates, who lost 13-12 away to Esher in February, will naturally respect the challenge of the ‘EEEs’, as despite them presently lying at the foot of the league table they have gifted performers and a good team spirit to as ever pose a threat.

The sides named for Sunday are as follows:-

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, G. Pointer, D. Locke, S. Hill, D. Doherty, C. Thomas, J. Doherty (c), B. Maidment, P. Burgess, C. Morgan, I. Nimmo, M. Myerscough, R. Brits, R. Elloway, P. Andrew.

Replacements: C. Rimmer, T. Cowan-Dickie, L. McGlone, B. Cowan, T. Kessell, A. Suniula, R. McAtee.

Esher: R. Kirby, C. Walker, P. Mackenzie, A. Wright, T. Loizedes, M. Atkinson, C. Stuart-Smith, C. Goodman, S. Stitcher (c), M. Macfarlane, I. Kench, P. Parker, R. Boot, S. Mackie, O. Mines.

Replacements: J. Gethings, S. Renwick, J. Campbell, M. Symons, C. Ingall, S. Edgerley, J. Mackenzie.

Referee: Michael Tutty (RFU) Assistants: Shane Lewis & Steve Leyshon

Gosio is a winger who represented the Pumas for the first time at the World Cup, scoring a try against Georgia. Strong and pacy, he will add an extra attacking threat to the Scottish wide areas.

Lalanne is an experienced scrum-half who has represented Argentina 10 times, including two tests against Scotland in 2009 and 2010. Formally of London Irish, he has experience of playing in the top flight of English rugby, and will provide invaluable experience to a young squad.

Head Coach Simon Amor was delighted to capture the signings: "It’s great that we have been joined by Agustin and Alfredo. Both will be bolstering critical positions for us in our squad and will add to our attacking threat.

They are World Cup internationals, and neither played a huge amount during the tournament so they will be desperate to play some rugby. Alfredo previously played for London Irish so he has top level experience in English rugby and I have no doubt he will be a tremendous scrum half for us, and someone that Matt Heeks and Jamie Stevenson in particular will be able to learn a lot from.  Agustin is a true attacking threat out wide and a natural try scorer."

It is expected that both will play a part in the game against Bedford Blues on Saturday (3pm kick off).

Runciman was part of the Gloucester Rugby Academy at the outset of his rugby career before moving to Worcester Warriors and subsequently to London Welsh.

The 25 year old has represented his country at U16 and U18  level as well as being a member of an U21 Grand Slam winning squad. He has also played for the Barbarians.

He has been a regular at Old Deer Park, making 65 league appearances in total and is currently playing his part in the Exiles Championship play off campaign.

Gloucester Rugby Head Coach Bryan Redpath told the club website today that you can never have too many scrum halves!

“We know all about Nick obviously with him having started his career here as part of our Academy and then having played just up the road at Worcester.”

“He’s developed into a very capable performer in the meantime and we’re aware that Rory Lawson will probably be away for quite a bit of next season because of the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations.”

“We’ll therefore need options in the number nine shirt as it’s a specialist position and with Nick, Dave Lewis and Dan Robson to call upon, I’m very happy with where we stand.”

Runciman himself is delighted to be returning to where it all started for him:

“It’ll be great to be back at Kingsholm. I obviously still know a number of the boys there and have kept tabs on how the team have been doing.”

“I saw them win the LV= Cup on television recently so Heineken Cup is assured next season which is a huge bonus for the club and very exciting for me personally.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at London Welsh, they’re a great club and it goes without saying that I’ll be doing my level best for them for the remaining games of the season.”  

The 21 year old scrum half has been an influential member of the Welsh All Blacks side this season following the return to New Zealand of Kevin Farrell.

The Aberystwyth-born, Llandovery College product has scored nine tries in the Principality Premiership this season, including  three in March – against Swansea and Newport at home and Cross Keys away – helping them to their current position at the top of the league.

He said, “Things have gone well this season, despite the disappointment of being knocked out of the SWALEC Cup and the British & Irish Cup.

“We’re pushing to finish the league season as top club, and that fate is still in our hands if we win our final two games – away to Aberavon and Carmarthen Quins – with bonus points.

“We would then go straight through to the Premiership play-off final. However, Pontypridd are playing really well at the moment too, in three competitions. We just have to hope that having just one competition to focus on will work in our favour.

“In terms of future plans, I’m not looking too far ahead, I just want to keep playing well for Neath and hopefully something else will come along in terms of Regional offers.”

Neath head coach Patrick Horgan added, “Tom has really come on this season in particular, making the Number 9 shirt his own since Kevin Farrell’s departure. He switched to scrum half two years ago after previously playing centre and outside half and he’s been a key member of the team this year, an excellent club man.

“We slipped up against Bedwas at the start of the season and a few people write us off but we’ve got ourselves back into a position now to retain the title and we’re determined to do that.”

James was selected for the award by Premiership coaches and WRU performance and development staff.

Researchers from the University of Chester collected 304 sets of data from 54 Aviva Premiership Rugby matches involving eight top flight clubs in the season to March 27.

Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, London Irish, London Wasps, Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks players have worn GPS units to provide a range of information for a PhD study entitled  ‘The Demands of Training and Playing in Elite Rugby Union’ commissioned by the Rugby Football Union on the recommendation of the Professional Game Board and part-sponsored by the English Institute of Sport.

The first results from the three-year study are highlighted by Dr Paul Worsfold, Senior Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Sciences, and PhD student Nicola Cahill at today’s Annual Professional Rugby Conference at Twickenham Stadium.

They show significant differences between six positional groups* in terms of time on pitch, total distance covered, distance covered at low speed run and high speed run, maximum speed and average speed.

• Average time on pitch ranges from 75.63mins for front row to 91.63mins for inside backs
• Average distance covered ranges from 4.45km (front row) to 6.84km (scrum half)
• Average distance at Low Speed Run1 ranges from 3.15km (front row) to 4.53km (scrum half)
• Average distance at High Speed Run2 ranges from 0.15km (front row) to 0.61km (outside backs)
• Maximum speed for the positional groups varies from an average of 23.7kmh (front row) to 30.7kmh (outside backs)

The top individual speed recorded in the 54 matches was 36.7kmh (22.8mph) and the greatest distance covered in one match was 8.2km (5 miles).

Dr Worsfold said: “In the past five years GPS technology has had a significant impact on performance analysis in elite sport. We can now accurately evaluate the training loads and activity profiles of players in competitive situations on the field.

“The aims of the study are to focus on the use of GPS in training and game performance to establish positional demands, to identify potential injury risk, and to monitor relationships between training, competition and fatigue.

“We will have collected over 450 sets of GPS match data from players by the end of the season. The results of the study will enable individual players to gain information on the physical demands of their specific positions during a match situation, and allow them to compare their own performances with the averages across Aviva Premiership Rugby.

“The findings will help coaches, sport scientists and players gain an understanding of what elite rugby union players, in different playing positions, do within a competitive season. This will enable specific training and monitoring programs to be developed for each position to optimise performance and player safety."

Accelerometers in the 5Hz GPS units produce data relating to impacts and body loads on players which will be investigated in the next stage of the study.

Roy Headey, the RFU’s Head of Sports Science, said: "Coaches, medical and conditioning staff rely on analysts and sports scientists being able to simplify and combine a variety of sources of data to inform their decision making.

“A critical piece of information relates to the external loads –  visible but virtually impossible to estimate – that players experience during games, These include distances run at various speeds, muscular effort in accelerating, decelerating, changing direction and G-forces in collisions, and GPS is currently the best available vehicle for capturing such data."

Corin Palmer, Premiership Rugby’s Head of Academies and Development, said: “This study, in conjunction with the Injury Audit, is another example of the clubs and the Union working together to create the best possible playing and training environment for elite players in England.

“It will allow coaches and medical staff to design training programmes to optimise player fitness, rehabilitation and general welfare, but it will also play an important part in the creation of individual player development plans for academy athletes as part of the clubs’ ongoing desire to nurture and invest in young English talent.”

*The six positional groups are: Front row, second row, back row, scrum half, inside backs and outside backs.

** Low Speed Run < 12kmh, 2 High Speed Run > 18kmh

Head coach, Alan Tait said: “Spice provides much needed cover for Micky Young at scrum half. He also brings with him a wealth of experience which is invaluable for the club.”

Spice will not play in Sunday’s Amlin Challenge Cup showdown with Exeter Chiefs but is expected to feature against Leeds Carnegie on Boxing Day.