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Bridge the big surprise in England squad
14:45, Oct 12 2009
England coach Tony Smith has named three uncapped players in his 24-man squad for the Gillette Four Nations series.
Warrington centre or stand-off Chris Bridge, who has switched allegiance from Ireland, is the surprise inclusion in a squad that lacks a host of familiar names who have paid the price for England's World Cup failure. St Helens' exciting utility back Kyle Eastmond and Wigan's Super League young player of the year Sam Tomkins, both 20, are the other new faces.
Leon Pryce, Ade Gardner, Paul Wellens and Maurie Fa'asavalu are the big-name omissions from St Helens, while there are no places for the Leeds trio of Rob Burrow, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and the internationally-retired Keith Senior.
There are just nine players from the two Grand Finalists, compared to 15 in Smith's 24-strong World Cup party as the coach opts for a youthful line-up.
No fewer than 14 of the 17 players who were on duty for the mid-season international against France have been retained, while Bradford centre Paul Sykes, a survivor from the World Cup, has forced himself back into the reckoning.
Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield is also recalled following his man-of-the-match display in Saturday's Grand Final, along with his Rhinos team-mate Lee Smith, who is switching codes with Wasps at the end of the Four Nations.
Hull KR's Shaun Briscoe is the only specialist full-back, which probably signals the end of the international career of Wellens.
Huddersfield prop Eorl Crabtree will sit out England's opening match against France on October 23 after undergoing minor knee surgery but is expected to be available for their next match against Australia on October 31.
Thirteen members of the squad will play for England in Saturday's international against Wales in Bridgend, with the Leeds and St Helens contingent being given a week to recover from a gruelling Grand Final.
England's Gillette Four Nations squad: Chris Bridge (Warrington), Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR), Sam Burgess (Bradford), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield), Kyle Eastmond (St Helens), Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers), Peter Fox (Hull KR), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Danny McGuire (Leeds), Scott Moore (Huddersfield), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Richard Myler (Salford), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan), Jamie Peacock (Leeds, capt), James Roby (St Helens), Michael Shenton (Castleford), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Lee Smith (Leeds), Paul Sykes (Bradford), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Jon Wilkin (St Helens).
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