England A head coach Mark Mapletoft has named an extended 30-man squad to take on Argentina XV next Friday in Bath, with eight Test-capped players included. 

The wider A squad features a number of players recently involved in Steve Borthwick’s three-day senior camp last week in the form of Noah Caluori, Charlie Atkinson and Max Ojomoh, while Fitz Harding has been named captain.

Eight Test-capped men in England ‘A’ squad for Argentina clash

The trio of Caluori, Atkinson and Ojomoh are joined by Ethan Roots, Luke Northmore, Jamie Blamire, George Kloska and Joe Carpenter as the Test-capped men in the 30-man group, while Mapletoft has also drafted in a number of in-form PREM players.

English-qualified Newcastle Red Bulls forward Max Hicks is arguably the headline pick in the group, while Afo Fasogbon, Archie van der Flier, Nathan Jibulu, Caolan Englefield and George Hendy also make the cut.

Elsewhere, Lucas Friday, Will Knight, Alex O’Driscoll, James Pater and Will Trenholm also earn their first call-ups for the A team set-up, with Friday and Pater still active members of the England U20s elite squad.

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Commenting on his A squad selection, Mapletoft said: “This squad brings together a group of players who have earned an exciting opportunity through their performances, marking the start of an important week of connection, growth and learning.

“The programme plays a key role in strengthening the identity of English rugby, creating alignment across the pathway and giving players the chance to experience what it means to represent England in a high-performance environment.

“There is real ambition within this group, and we are looking forward to building strong relationships, developing cohesion and unity, and taking another step forward together ahead of a physical and demanding test at The Rec.”

England A squad in full

Forwards: Ben Bamber, Joe Batley, Jamie Blamire, Afolabi Fasogbon, Fitz Harding (c), Max Hicks, Will Hobson, Nathan Jibulu, Jack Kenningham, George Kloska, Tom Lockett, Alex O’Driscoll, Sam Riley, Ethan Roots, Will Trenholm, Archie van der Flier

Backs: Charlie Atkinson, Orlando Bailey, Noah Caluori, Joe Carpenter, Tobias Elliott, Caolan Englefield, Lucas Friday, George Hendy, Will Knight, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh, James Pater, Billy Searle, Will Wand