Adjust font size:
    LONDON, England -- New England rugby coach Brian Ashton made his mark on Tuesday by naming Phil Vickery as his new captain and recalling World Cup-winner Jason Robinson, 15 months after the full-back's international retirement, in his initial Six Nations Championship squad. Ashton, only confirmed as Andy Robinson's successor last month, rang the changes in his first squad as coach of the world champions with Wasps prop Vickery replacing Martin Corry as captain. Leicester back-row Corry's 14 Tests in charge ended with three defeats in four games against world number ones New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa at Twickenham in November. Sale star Robinson, 32, won 39 caps before stepping down in September, 2005 and, like Vickery, was a member of England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad. "Jason is another who has won a World Cup and knows what it takes to be at the top of the world game in professional sport," said Ashton. "Apart from being a fantastic rugby player he has outstanding values as a person which will be important to the England team in the coming year," Ashton added of Robinson, a committed Christian. Explaining his change of captain, former Bath and Ireland coach Ashton said: "Phil is a player of massive experience who has been at the top of the world and he has a great desire to lead England back there again. "He showed in the autumn he is back playing international rugby well and both as a player and a captain he is the right man to take England forward. "During the autumn Martin Corry handled the captaincy situation really well in what was a difficult period -- and I thank him for that." Vickery, who led England to victory against Argentina in Buenos Aires in 2002, said: "It's a huge honor to be asked to captain England. "Everyone knows what a fantastic guy Martin Corry is -- he led from the front in a tough autumn when he was getting a lot of stick and I feel very privileged to follow him. "But I don't just want the title. I want to be part of a successful team." The 33-man squad also includes uncapped Saracens center Andy Farrell, like Robinson a former Great Britain rugby league international. London Irish fly-half Shane Geraghty and fellow-rookies Tom Rees and Dan Ward-Smith are also included as is injury-plagued Jonny Wilkinson, the hero of England's 2003 World Cup triumph. But Ben Kay and Ben Cohen, who both featured in November, missed out as did another star from four years ago, former captain Lawrence Dallaglio. However, there was better news for center Mike Tindall, who was included while fellow World Cup winner and Saracens flanker Richard Hill, out for 16 months with a knee injury, was chosen for England's 'A' squad. Under Andy Robinson, formerly 2003 chief Clive Woodward's deputy, England lost 13 out of 22 Tests and dropped to seventh in the world rankings while the last two Six Nations have seen them finish fourth. Ashton's first match in charge of England will be the February 3 Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham. England Squad: Forwards: Alex Brown, George Chuter, Martin Corry, Louis Deacon, Perry Freshwater, Danny Grewcock, Magnus Lund, Lee Mears, Lewis Moody, Tim Payne, Tom Palmer, Tom Rees, Steve Thompson, Phil Vickery, Dan Ward-Smith, Julian White, Joe Worsley. Backs: Iain Balshaw, Mike Catt, Mark Cueto, Harry Ellis, Andy Farrell, Toby Flood, Shane Geraghty, Josh Lewsey, Jamie Noon, Shaun Perry, Jason Robinson, Peter Richards, Paul Sackey, Mathew Tait, Mike Tindall, Jonny Wilkinson. |
Get up-to-the minute news from CNNCNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. |
The imposing figure of Vickery will now lead England into the Six Nations matches.
| © 2007 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
 |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video.