England have called up former South Africa U20 centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg to train with the national squad ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship. The Bristol Bears midfielder has been selected ahead of Bath duo Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh, despite not being officially available for England until 8 July.
Janse van Rensburg will become eligible on residency grounds after five years in the UK, having joined London Irish previously. This means he will miss England's Test against the Springboks on 4 July but could debut against Fiji at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium the following weekend. The 29-year-old may also feature in a non-cap game against a France XV in Vannes on 19 June if he impresses in training.
The Rugby Football Union successfully appealed to World Rugby for dispensation, arguing that Janse van Rensburg's 21-minute appearance for South Africa's U20 side in 2016 should not bind him to South Africa permanently. Steve Borthwick is seeking fresh momentum after England's fifth-place finish in the Six Nations, where they lost four of five games.
Other call-ups include Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland, Saracens' Charlie Bracken, and Leicester wing Adam Radwan, who replaces Henry Arundell. Uncaptured Bath front-row duo Vilikesa Sela and Kepu Tuipulotu are also included in the 42-man squad. Borthwick is considering resting senior players, including captain Maro Itoje, for some July games, following the example of Clive Woodward's 2003 World Cup-winning squad.
