By Kath 26-4-07
April 26 2007

England Head Coach Brian Ashton said today that no England players involved in the Heineken Cup & European Challenge Cup finals will be involved in either of the two tests in South Africa.

BRIAN ASHTON CONFIRMS EUROPEAN CUP FINALS PLAYERS WON'T TOUR

England Head Coach Brian Ashton confirmed today that no England players involved in the Heineken Cup (May 20th) and European Challenge Cup (May 19th) finals will be involved in either of England's two tests for their summer tour to South Africa. England play the Springboks on May 26th in Bloemfontein and on June 2nd in Pretoria.

Brian Ashton said "I've reached the decision based on three principles. Firstly, the players will not have time to prepare and acclimatise for the first test match. Secondly, after their massive efforts spent in reaching the Heineken and European Challenge Cup finals it gives this group of players the opportunity to recharge their batteries before meeting up again for the RWC warm up camps, which start on June 25th.

"Finally, I also feel very strongly that the players I will select for the touring squad must be trusted and respected to fulfil the two fixtures against South Africa."

The 32 man England squad to tour South Africa will be announced on Tuesday, May 1st.

England's Rugby World Cup preparations start on *June 25th with a two week training camp at Browns Sports & Leisure Club in Vilamoura on the Algarve, Portugal, before returning to the sports complex at Bath University in the second week of July.

England's training camps will then be based at Bath University for their three RWC warm up games against **Wales, France (twice) and prior to their departure to Versailles on September 3rd.

The team's base camp for the group stages of the RWC 2007 will be the Trianon Palace hotel in Versailles including their opening match of the RWC 2007 against the USA.

The RFU is also continuing its dialogue with the IRB about extending the date of the RWC 30 man squad announcement from August 14th until after their final warm up game against France on August 18th.