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Northampton's Clark recalled to England squad

Northampton forward Calum Clark has been recalled to the England squad for the RBS Six Nations after serving a 32-week ban for…

Thu Jan 10 2013 - 00:00

Northampton forward Calum Clark has been recalled to the England squad for the RBS Six Nations after serving a 32-week ban for breaking the elbow of an opponent.

Clark, who was on the fringes of the national team this time last year, is one of two uncapped players in the 33-man squad along with Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees.

Joe Launchbury, Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola and Freddie Burns have all been formally promoted into the senior squad after impressing during England’s autumn international campaign.

England’s search for a left wing has led to a return for David Strettle in place of Charlie Sharples, who is more at home on the right, and James Haskell has replaced Phil Dowson in the backrow.

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Youngs has taken the place of injured Bath hooker Rob Webber, Launchbury has ousted Wasps team-mate Tom Palmer and Vunipola is an additional selection in an expanded 33-man squad.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster has dropped centres Anthony Allen and Jordan Turner-Hall for Burns and Twelvetrees. Clark has been preferred to Mouritz Botha.

The combative 23-year-old gives England options in both the backrow and secondrow, offering the same versatility as his Northampton colleague Courtney Lawes.

Alun-Wyn Jones remains on course to potentially play a part in Wales’ campaign this season.

The Ospreys lock, who has won 67 caps, underwent shoulder surgery after being injured during Wales’ autumn Test series opener against Argentina in Cardiff almost two months ago.

Jones remains on course for a return to action late next month or early March, suggesting the final two Six Nations appointments with Scotland and England could feature on the radar.

ENGLAND (Six Nations squad): Forwards: C Clark (Northampton), A Corbisiero (London Irish), D Cole (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester ), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), T Johnson (Exeter), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), B Morgan (Gloucester), G Parling (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), T Waldrom (Leicester), D Wilson (Bath), T Wood (Northampton), T Youngs (Leicester). Backs: C Ashton (Saracens), B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), F Burns (Gloucester), D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton), O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), D Strettle (Saracens), M Tuilagi (Leicester), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester), B Youngs (Leicester).