Dawson back for England

Matt Dawson, England's most capped scrum-half, is back in the reckoning for the Six Nations Championship match against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday week.

Northampton's Dawson, holder of 42 caps, last played for England against Ireland in Dublin in October but has recovered from injury and is once again competing with Kyran Bracken, of Saracens, for the scrum-half berth.

England manager Clive Woodward has also named Harlequins scrum-half Nick Duncombe and wing Dan Luger, who has been dropped by Quins for Saturday's Zurich Premiership match with Newcastle, in his initial squad of 27 players, which will be reduced to 22 next Tuesday.

Captain Martin Johnson is one of two players not to be retained after the 20-15 defeat by France in Paris. Johnson has to serve a three-match suspension after punching Robbie Russell, of Saracens, in a Zurich Premiership match last month.

Also absent is Gloucester centre Henry Paul, who is on England duty in the Hong Kong seven-a-side tournament next week.

The England captaincy goes to Neil Back, of Leicester.

The England squad