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Re-call to arms: Brive hooker
Steve Thompson
© Diarmid Courreges |
Brive's
England World Cup winner Steve Thompson has been
recalled to the national side by manager Martin
Johnson.
Thompson, 30, hasn't
played for England since winning the last of his 47 caps in
March 2006, and looked as if he may never play the sport
again when he retired later that year following a broken
neck. But he returned to action with Brive in 2007/8 and has
been in cracking form for the Limousin club this season.
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He now has the chance
to complete a remarkable comeback after being named in
England's squad for the Barbarians match and the two-Test
series against Argentina.
And Thompson wasn't
the only French-based player named by Johnson - despite
recent threats of non-inclusion by the RFU - with fellow
club-mates Andy Goode and Jamie Noon also getting the nod.
Goode was recalled
the England squad for the Six Nations Championship after
impressing during his debut season with Brive. Noon joins
Brive this summer after signing from Newcastle.
Interview:
Steve Thompson - 'I want to
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And there was also a
first call-up for new Toulon signing Tom May in Johnson's
34-man squad - one of six uncapped players.
May's call-up caps a
remarkable season for the former Newcastle Falcons player,
having overseen his club's revival after deputising for the
injured Jonny Wilkinson.
"This is a very strong squad full of a
mixture of experience and young talent," said Johnson. "I'm
sure that any of the uncapped players will take the step up
from the Saxons to the senior Test arena if they are given
the opportunity.
"I'm looking forward
to all the games and the three day training camp this week,
which will give us further invaluable time with the squad,"
he added.
England kick off
their 2009 summer tour against the Barbarians at Twickenham
on May 30, before heading to Old Trafford to take on
Argentina on June 6. The return match in South America takes
place a week later.
England squad
Forwards: Steffon Armitage, Steve Borthwick, George
Chuter, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Louis Deacon, Nick Easter,
Dylan Hartley, Ben Kay, Nick Kennedy, Lewis Moody, Tim
Payne, Tom Rees, Chris Robshaw*, Steve Thompson, Julian
White, David Wilson*, Nick Wood*.
Backs: Delon Armitage, Danny Care, Mark Cueto, Ben
Foden, Andy Goode, Jordan Turner-Hall*, Dan Hipkiss, Paul
Hodgson, Tom May*, Olly Morgan, Jamie Noon, David Strettle,
Mathew Tait, Sam Vesty*, Richard Wigglesworth
* Denotes
uncapped player
