England head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 28-man training squad ahead of Rugby World Cup 2023. 

Excluding players who contested the recent Premiership semi-finals and those who are involved with the Top 14 play-off series, the squad is a mixture of experience and youth. 

Headlining the squad announcement was the omission of Montpellier-bound number eight Sam Simmonds. 

The former Exeter Chiefs star has ruled himself out of contention, instead opting to head to link up with his new club in the summer. Based on reporting in the Telegraph, Simmonds spoke with Borthwick to confirm his decision. 

Simmonds became the second former Chiefs player to turn down a role with England this year as Jack Nowell, who has signed for Heineken Champions Cup winners Stade Rochelais, also ruled himself out. 

In Simmonds' place, the man he is replacing at Montpellier, Zach Mercer, has been included in the national squad for the first time in five years. 

Joining Mercer as a number eight option is stalwart Billy Vunipola, who is named for the first time in a Borthwick squad, having been snubbed throughout the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. 

Several players from the stricken London Irish club have been included despite several of them still being unsure of where they will play their rugby next season. 

The squad in full reads as follows: 

Forwards Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
, Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
, Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Ted Hill (Bath Rugby), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Zach Mercer (Montpellier Hérault Rugby), Beno Obano (Bath Rugby), Tom Pearson (London Irish), Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Jack Walker (Harlequins). 

Backs Henry Arundell (London Irish), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish), Will Joseph (London Irish), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby).