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Manu Tuilagi has been named in a 33-man England training squad for a two-day camp in Brighton next week
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Maro Itoje, James Haskell, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell return after missing the autumn internationals
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Mako and Billy Vunipola miss the camp because of injury, while Joe Launchbury is also not fit
Eddie Jones has announced a revised 45-man elite player squad (EPS) and the 33 players who will attend a two-day training camp in Brighton.
The 33 players will assemble in Brighton from 2-3 January ahead of the opening game of the Six Nations against France at Twickenham on Saturday 4 February (4.50pm).
Maro Itoje, James Haskell, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell return after missing the autumn internationals through injury, while there is a first call-up for Bath prop Nathan Catt. Wasps Matt Mullan (Wasps) also returns to the England set-up having not featured in the autumn.
“This short two-day camp in Brighton allows us to do some of the organisational work we need to do for the Six Nations,” said England head coach Jones. “We’re looking for players who are desperate to play for England.”
“We have France first-up who are one of the most improved sides in Europe. They should have beaten Australia and could have beaten the All Blacks in November, so they’ll come into the Six Nations with a lot of confidence.
“We’ve got to make sure that we use this training camp to get an understanding of how we’re going to beat France. We want to see a good attitude from the players and, as always, we’re looking for players who are desperate to play for England.”
England sealed a first Grand Slam since 2003 in the 2016 Six Nations and Jones added: “The thing the struck me about last year’s Six Nations is that sides were scared to lose and we want to make sure in this Six Nations, right from the word go, that we’re daring and we have the courage to play our game.”