Robshaw rested for England rugby tour

LONDON (AFP) –

England captain Chris Robshaw after the Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, on March 16, 2013. Robshaw has been left out of England’s 32-man squad for a fixture with the Barbarians and a three-match tour of Uruguay and Argentina.

England captain Chris Robshaw has been left out of England’s 32-man squad announced Wednesday for a fixture with the Barbarians and a three-match tour of Uruguay and Argentina.

Other England regulars omitted were the Harlequin flanker’s teammate Danny Care, Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Brad Barritt and Chris Ashton (both Saracens).

Robshaw is being rested despite having made it clear he was keen to tour after missing out on selection for the British and Irish Lions.

Captained by Northampton’s Tom Wood, the England squad includes five players who are 21 or under, the youngest of whom is Wasps No.8 Billy Vunipola, who represented England Under 20s last year.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We’re really looking forward to this tour and we’ve selected a young and exciting side which I’m sure will do the country proud in a tough series of matches.

“The key principles in selection were threefold: first and foremost to win the games but also to develop strength in depth and more options in certain positions, and to give one or two players a physical and mental break.

“Tom Wood will captain the side and I am sure he will do a fantastic job as he has the respect of all the players and management and we are looking forward to other leaders developing in the absence of some senior players.

“A few are being rested after a hard campaign but they will, of course, be considered by the British & Irish Lions should they be required.”

England squad

Backs (14)

Mike Brown (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Kyle Eastmond* (Bath), Ben Foden (Northampton), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Jonny May* (Gloucester), David Strettle (Saracens), Joel Tomkins (Saracens)*, Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Christian Wade* (Wasps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Marland Yarde* (London Irish)

Forwards (18)

Dave Attwood (Bath), Rob Buchanan* (Harlequins), Calum Clark* (Northampton), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Paul Doran Jones (Northampton), Tom Johnson (Exeter), Matt Kvesic* (Worcester), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), David Paice (London Irish), Ed Slater* (Leicester), Henry Thomas* (Sale), Billy Vunipola* (Wasps), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton, capt)

Note * = uncapped

Fixtures

May 26: v Barbarians, Twickenham

Jun 02: v CONSUR XV, Montevideo

Jun 08: v Argentina, 1st Test, Salta

Jun 15: v Argentina, 2nd Test, Buenos Aires