England head coach Andy Robinson has today named a squad of 30 players for the forthcoming Investec Challenge matches against Australia, New Zealand and Samoa.
 
Coming into the England squad for the first time is New Zealand-born London Wasps fly-half Mark van Gisbergen, who qualified to play for England  on September 1 following three-year residency. 

The 28-year old has had an impressive start to his GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP season, scoring 68 points in his first four matches and equalling Jonny Wilkinson's premiership record for most successful conversions (28). 

Robinson said: "Mark is a quality player and I have been impressed by his performances for London Wasps, not least his place kicking, and look forward to seeing how he fits in with the England squad."
 
Twenty-seven-year-old Peter Richards, who moved from London Wasps to Gloucester this summer, has also earned a call-up to the senior training squad. 

Robinson said, "Peter has been a key and impressive member of the England sevens squad over the last few years as well as being involved in the Churchill Cup. He has been playing well for Gloucester and I feel he will benefit from being involved with the senior squad."
 
Along with van Gisbergen, the squad includes three other players who were not named in the 61-man EPS squad which Robinson announced in August.  Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors) led England to a successful Churchill Cup victory in Canada in the summer and has been rewarded with inclusion in the 30-man squad. Andy Goode also had a successful Churchill Cup tour and is named alongside Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks) in the fly-half position. 
 
Robinson also announced that Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers) would captain the side for the Investec Challenge matches. 

He said: "Martin led the team extremely well during the RBS 6 Nations and I am sure he will take this opportunity to do so again against three very tough teams in November."
 
In addition to several new faces, Robinson has also selected several more experienced players who continue to play well for both club and country. Players such as Lewis Moody and Martin Corry, of Leicester Tigers, alongside Phil Vickery (Gloucester) and Matt Dawson (London Wasps) will all bring experience to the squad. 

Robinson said, "I am delighted that after periods of injury Tindall and Vickery are available for selection. The experience the more senior players bring to the England squad is invaluable and will help further develop the new players coming into the set up."
 
The 30-man squad will train at Loughborough University from Sunday, October 2, until Thursday, October 6. The squad will be reduced to 22 the week beginning October 31.  
 
England 30 man training squad for Investec Challenge:
 
Stuart ABBOTT (London Wasps)
Iain BALSHAW (Leeds Tykes)
Alex BROWN (Gloucester)
Martin CORRY (Leicester Tigers)
Mark CUETO (Sale Sharks)
Matt DAWSON (London Wasps)
Harry ELLIS (Leicester Tigers)
James FORRESTER (Gloucester)
Perry FRESHWATER (Perpignan)
Andy GOODE (Leicester Tigers)
Danny GREWCOCK (Bath)
Charlie HODGSON (Sale Sharks)
Chris JONES (Sale Sharks)
Josh LEWSEY (London Wasps)
Lee MEARS (Bath)
Lewis MOODY (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie NOON (Newcastle Falcons)
Tom PALMER (Leeds Tykes)
Peter RICHARDS (Gloucester)
Pat SANDERSON (Worcester Warriors)
Simon SHAW (London Wasps)
Andrew SHERIDAN (Sale Sharks)
James SIMPSON-DANIEL (Gloucester)
Ollie SMITH (Leicester Tigers)
Matt STEVENS (Bath)
Steve THOMPSON (Northampton Saints)
Mike TINDALL (Gloucester)
Mark VAN GISBERGEN (London Wasps)
Phil VICKERY (Gloucester)
Joe WORSLEY (London Wasps)
 
Those not considered due to injury:
Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), Andy Farrell (Saracens) and Tom Rees (London Wasps).
 
Stand by players (who will not train with the squad):
Graham Rowntree (Leicester Tigers)
Andy Titterell (Sale Sharks)
Julian White (Leicester Tigers)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Steve Borthwick (Bath)
Andy Hazell (Gloucester)
Olly Barkley (Bath)
Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons)
Tom Voyce (London Wasps)
Dan Scarbrough (Saracens)