Rugby World Cup: Sam Burgess survives England squad cull

CODE hopper Sam Burgess has survived the cull as England coach Stuart Lancaster trims his squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup

BATH, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Sam Burgess of Bath celebrates at the final whistle following the Aviva Premiership Semi Final match between Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers at Recreation Ground on May 23, 2015 in Bath, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

CHRIS Ashton has been axed from England’s Rugby World Cup training squad as coach Stuart Lancaster finetunes the hosts’ preparations — but code-hopping star Sam Burgess is safe.

With the tournament due to get underway in September, Lancaster has to reduce his squad to a final 31-man group by August 31 and Ashton was the highest-profile casualty of his round of cuts, which included six other players.

Fellow wings Semesa Rokoduguni and Marland Yarde, centre Kyle Eastmond, halfback Lee Dickson, flanker Matt Kvesic and prop Matt Mullan have also been dropped.

As expected, NRL convert Burgess remains in the squad, while Danny Cipriani also makes the cut alongside fellow five-eighths George Ford and Owen Farrell.

Sam Burgess of Bath celebrates beating the Leicester Tigers.

The changes reduce the number of players who will be returning to the squad’s training camp to 39.

“It has been difficult to narrow down the squad as everyone has contributed and given their all,” Lancaster said.

“But what I’ve said to those guys who are not coming back in on Sunday is that the door is not closed by any means.

“They are only an injury away and there is a lot of international rugby to be played this season, culminating in a three-Test tour to Australia.”

England’s wing Chris Ashton scores a try during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The removal of Ashton, Yarde and Rokoduguni leaves England with only three wings left in contention with Anthony Watson, Jack Nowell and Jonny May the trio who will return to camp on Sunday.

England have their contingent of halfbacks now that Dickson has gone, leaving Ben Youngs, Richard Wigglesworth and Danny Care on course to make the final cut.

England play the first of three warm-up games against France on August 15 at Twickenham, where the World Cup starts when Lancaster’s side face Fiji on September 18.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Sam Burgess survives England squad cull