Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Noah Caluori handed England call-ups as training squad announced ahead of Nations Championship

The group will get together from May 18 to May 20 at England’s Performance Centre as they prepare for their Nations Championship opener against world champions South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday, July 4.

They then take on Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 11 before travelling to face Argentina on July 18.

Of particular note are the inclusions of Bristol Bears centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Saracens winger Noah Caluori.

After the RFU successfully lobbied World Rugby to clear Janse van Rensburg for England selection despite making one appearance for the Springboks Under-20s, and now that the centre is a matter of days away from serving his five-year residency, Borthwick has wasted little time in bringing him into the fold.

The 29-year-old can play at 12 or 13, and is strong in defence and lethal in attack. Borthwick has seemingly struggled to decide on a first-choice midfield partnership during his time in charge, so it will be interesting to see where Janse van Rensburg fits in.

He will be eligible from July 8, so he won’t be available for the clash against the Springboks, but he could earn his first cap against Fiji.

As for Caluori, his selection comes as no surprise.

The 19-year-old has lit up the Gallagher PREM this season with 18 tries as Saracens push for a spot in the play-offs.

Elsewhere, 20-year-old Bath hooker Kepu Tuipulotu has been named in his first England senior squad.

Forwards:
Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby)
Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby)

Backs:
Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
Noah Caluori (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears)
Archie McParland (Northampton Saints)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Rehabilitation: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)

Not considered for selection: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Will Muir (Bath Rugby), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby).

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.