Henry Paul was yesterday omitted from a 50-man squad named by England's manager Clive Woodward to prepare for November's internationals against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
Woodward said players might be added to the 50 before November but, with Paul yet to settle on a position at Gloucester in the 10 months since he joined from Bradford Bulls, his chances of figuring appear remote.
The Wasps hooker Phil Greening is the other major absentee and the Sale wing Mark Cueto, the Newcastle lock Hugh Vyvyan and the London Irish flanker Declan Danaher, who all went on the summer tour to Argentina, have also been left out.
Ireland, who start their international programme against Romania in Limerick tomorrow, will be led by the No8 Anthony Foley because of the withdrawal of Keith Wood yesterday after the death of his brother Gordon.
Northampton's England-squad prop Robbie Morris and the London Irish centre Rob Hoadley have been banned for one match after receiving their third yellow cards in 12 months in the Premiership last weekend. Morris has appealed and his hearing will take place next Thursday.
England squad: Backs: Appleford (London Irish), Bracken (Saracens), Catt (Bath), Christophers (Bristol), Cohen (Northampton), Dawson (Northampton), Gomarsall (Gloucester), Greenwood (Harlequins), Healey (Leicester), Hodgson (Sale), Horak (London Irish), Johnston (Saracens), Lewsey (Wasps), Noon, Stephenson (both Newcastle), Robinson (Sale), Scarbrough (Leeds), Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Smith (Leicester), Sorrell (Saracens), Stimpson (Leicester), Tindall (Bath), Wilkinson (Newcastle). Forwards: Anglesea (Sale), Back (Leicester), Borthwick (Bath), Codling (Harlequins), Corry (Leicester), Dallaglio (Wasps), Flatman (Saracens), Forrester (Gloucester), Grewcock (Bath), Hill (Saracens), Johnson , Kay , Moody (all Leicester), Leonard (Harlequins), Morris (Northampton), Palmer (Leeds), Regan (Leeds), Rowntree (Leicester), A Sanderson (Sale), Shaw (Wasps), Thompson (Northampton), Vickery , Woodman (both Gloucester), West (Leicester), White (Bristol), J Worsley (Wasps), M Worsley (London Irish).
