WARRIORS tighthead prop Nick Schonert has been included in England’s squad for the first of two training camps before the first official World Cup training session.
Schonert, who made his 100th Warriors appearance at Northampton last month, is uncapped but he played for an England XV against Barbarians last year and was included in their training squad for last season’s Quilter Internationals in the autumn.
Schonert’s consistent displays for Warriors in the second half of the season have helped him to secure a recall to England’s squad for the first of the two training camps which will be held at Pennyhill Park and Lensbury from Sunday to July 4.
The first official Rugby World Cup training camp begins on July 7 at Lensbury.
Players attending the camp at Pennyhill Park have not featured in the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals or final, apart from Lewis Ludlam and former Warriors prop Val Rapava Ruskin.
Both players and a small number involved in the Quilter Cup match against the Barbarians will be managed to ensure their post-season active rest periods are fulfilled in agreement with Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players Association.
George Kruis (Saracens) and Mako Vunipola (Saracens) will be in camp for treatment.
England’s squad for the training camp includes centre Ben Te’o and hooker Jack Singleton, who played their last match for Warriors against Saracens last month. Singleton has signed for Saracens next season but Te’o has yet to confirm who he will be playing for.
England head coach Eddie Jones said: “The first two England training camps are designed to improve individual players’ fundamentals to allow them to compete for a place in the Rugby World Cup squad.”
England’s official Rugby World Cup training squad will be announced by Jones at Japan House next Thursday.
England will play Wales (August 11) and Ireland (August 24) at Twickenham and Italy (September 6) in Newcastle as part of the Quilter Internationals as well as an away fixture against Wales (August 17) in Cardiff.
England will travel to Treviso, Italy, for a heat camp from July 22 until August 2 before returning to Italy on August 28 until September 5. The squad will also be based in Bristol for a week in July (14-18) and in August (12-16) ahead of England’s away match against Wales.
For the two matches against Wales and Ireland at Twickenham, the squad will train at Pennyhill Park.