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LONDON - Winger Jason Robinson will captain England for their tour of South Africa, coach Brian Ashton said today when he named the 30-man squad for the two tests.
Robinson, who has retired from club rugby and has said he will hang up his boots for good after this year's World Cup, will lead England when they play the Springboks in Bloemfontein on May 26 and in Pretoria on June 2.
"Jason has captained England before and we need someone with international captaincy experience," Ashton said in a statement.
"He's well respected by all the other players and he proved in the Six Nations that he was back to his top form again."
Other 2003 World Cup winners in the squad are first five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson, hooker Mark Regan, halfback Andy Gomarsall and wing Ben Cohen.
They are joined by seven uncapped players -- props Nick Wood and Darren Crompton, back row Peter Buxton, locks Roy Winters and Dean Schofield, hooker Matt Cairns and fullback Mike Brown.
"If you look at some of the experienced characters as well as some of the younger players who have recently appeared on the international scene it's an interesting mixture," said Ashton.
"It's going to be an enormous challenge for these players. We are under no illusions -- it is going to be an incredibly tough two-and-a-half weeks but I don't expect any of the players or management to back down from that challenge."
Eight players were not considered because of injury, including Mike Catt and centre Mike Tindall.
Squad:
Forwards: Alex Brown, Peter Buxton, Darren Crompton, Andy Hazell, Nick Easter, Chris Jones, Magnus Lund, Dean Schofield, Andy Titterrell, Mark Regan, Stuart Turner, Matt Cairns, Pat Sanderson, Roy Winters, Nick Wood, Kevin Yates
Backs: Anthony Allen, Mike Brown, Ben Cohen, Andy Farrell, Toby Flood, Andy Gomarsall, Jamie Noon, Shaun Perry, Pete Richards, Jason Robinson (Captain), James Simpson-Daniel, David Strettle, Matthew Tait, Jonny Wilkinson.
- REUTERS
