Lancaster emphasises importance of warm-up match
Last Updated: May 15, 2012 4:05pm
Dylan Hartley: eight-week ban for biting
Sky Bet
Northampton skipper Dylan Hartley will return from an eight-week biting ban in England's traditional pre-tour match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on May 27.
Hartley's suspension, for biting Stephen Ferris in England's Six Nations victory over Ireland in March, expired on May 14.
The hooker has been named in a 27-man England squad that does not feature any players fromLeicester or Harlequins, who meet in the Aviva Premiership final the previous day.
Freddie Burns, Jamie Gibson, Haydn Thomas and Richard Wigglesworth have all been drafted into the squad from outside England's touring party for the non-cap international.
England coach Stuart Lancaster said: "This match has become an established fixture in the season and is hugely important for us ahead of the tour.
"We will obviously be without the Leicester and Harlequins players... but this is a great opportunity for the rest of the squad, as well as Freddie, Jamie, Richard and Haydn, to put a marker down before we leave for the tour."
England will face a Barbarians side featuring former captain Mike Tindall and featuring Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, plus Samoan pair Sailosi Tagicakibau and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.
England head to South Africa after the Barbarians game for a five-match tour, which includes a three-Test series against the Springboks.
England squad:
Forwards: M Botha (Saracens), A Corbisiero (London Irish), P Doran-Jones (Northampton), P Dowson (Northampton), C Fearns (Bath), J Gibson (London Irish), D Hartley (Northampton), T Johnson (Exeter), J Launchbury (Wasps), L Mears (Bath), B Morgan (Scarlets), M Mullan (Worcester), T Palmer (Stade Francais), M Stevens (Saracens)
Backs: C Ashton (Northampton), B Barritt (Saracens), F Burns (Gloucester), L Dickson (Northampton), O Farrell (Saracens), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Saracens), C Hodgson (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), D Strettle (Saracens), H Thomas (Exeter), C Wade (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Saracens).
Backs: C Ashton (Northampton), B Barritt (Saracens), F Burns (Gloucester), L Dickson (Northampton), O Farrell (Saracens), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Saracens), C Hodgson (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), D Strettle (Saracens), H Thomas (Exeter), C Wade (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Saracens).
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