"Already sent home" - Three players released from England Rugby World Cup squad

The squad, which does not include players from Premiership finalists Sale Sharks and Saracens, gather today as preparations continue for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France which starts in September.  

“After an excellent first week’s training, we are very much looking forward to being in Brighton,” said Borthwick. “We’re pleased to welcome players from Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers who can now start to integrate themselves into the group, and we look forward to players from Sale Sharks and Saracens joining us in a fortnight.

“The first phase of our preparation continues to focus on ensuring the players are physically equipped for what we need to do in a World Cup campaign. That means the training will be tough and purposeful. The players are rising to the challenge.

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“We’ll work hard again this week, and we’ll enjoy some time together off the field too – which is also an important part of our preparation.”

Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) and Jack Walker (Harlequins) re-join the squad for treatment having picked up knee and calf injuries respectively whilst training last week.

However, three players have already been released by Borthwick with their World Cup hopes already seemingly over.

Hassell-Collins came through the AASE programme to earn himself a Senior Academy contract with London Irish.

Representing England Under-18s in the summer of 2017, Hassell-Collins played in the 2017 Singha Premiership Rugby 7s.

Hassell-Collins has been proving himself in the senior squad ever since, scoring 13 tries in 32 appearances at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season, including an incredible four tries against Gloucester in February 2020.

His performances continued to improve and in the 2020/21 season Ollie went on to make 37 clean breaks throughout the campaign, the second most of any player in the Gallagher Premiership.

Ollie received recognition for his performances by being named in Eddie Jones' training squad ahead of the 2021 summer internationals.

Due to his standout performances for Irish the following season, Hassell-Collins rekindled his work with the England international squad as part of several training squads throughout the year, including during the 2022 Guinness Six Nations. 

The winger scored the joint second-most tries for Irish in the 2021/22 season, with 11 in 26 appearances in all competitions alongside Benhard Janse van Rensburg.

His 168 carries sitauted him in the top 20 Premiership players in that category, with his 1,761 metres made earning him fourth place in the respective category. 

His 22 linebreaks was the most by any player in the regular 2021/22 season, only beaten by Harlequins' Cadan Murley in the postseason with 23, with 63 tackle breaks putting him in the top 10 of any player in the Premiership that season.

Next season, he will be playing for Leicester Tigers.

Spencer joined Bath Rugby during the summer of 2020 from Saracens and due to Covid, fans had to wait a while to see him in the flesh.

They were not to be disappointed as the scrum-half continued to display a high level of performance and leadership in Blue, Black and White akin to his time in north London.

His world-class skillset, which includes his speed of service, and accuracy of kicking game have seen his performances in the Premiership and Europe consistently standout over the years, earning international recognition with England.

He featured in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final just months after winning his third Champions Cup winning medal.

With five Premiership titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup under his belt, Spencer's experience is vitally important within the Bath squad.

Randall has thrived under Pat Lam at Bristol Bears developing into an intelligent and exciting number nine.

Born in Slough, Randall moved to Wales aged four and represented the country up until Under 18 level, but switched allegiance to England when he moved to Hartpury College for his studies.

He has since played for England U18s and U20s, and was part of the squad that won the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship in Manchester. Randall was picked up by Gloucester Rugby while he was playing for Hartpury in the Greene King IPA Championship but switched to Bristol Bears in 2018. In the 2020 Challenge Cup final he scored after 15 seconds for Bristol against Toulon, the fastest ever try in European rugby.

He received his first senior England call-up in January 2021 ahead of the Guinness Six Nations.