Johnson called up former New Zealand Maori Riki Flutey to the England squad. Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images

Mike Tindall and Ben Kay have been dropped from the senior England squad announced by new team manager Martin Johnson. However, the former New Zealand Maori Riki Flutey has been included as one of four uncapped players.

Tindall and Kay have been relegated to the England Saxons squad along with recent New Zealand tourists Joe Worsley, Michael Lipman, Richard Wigglesworth, Topsy Ojo, David Strettle and Mike Brown. Flutey, who qualifies for England on residency grounds in September joins fellow debutants, Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, London Irish lock Nick Kennedy and Leicester back-row forward Jordan Crane. Wasps full-back Josh Lewsey returns to the senior England fold for the first time since the World Cup, while Leicester duo Harry Ellis and Lewis Moody return from long-term injuries.

In all, 13 of the summer touring squad miss out on senior selection. Charlie Hodgson, who endured a nightmare tour of New Zealand, has not been included in either squad with Leicester’s Andy Goode preferred in the Saxons. The Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani has been included in the second string, even though he will not return from a fractured dislocation of his right ankle until at least the end of November. The only specialist fly-half in the full England squad is Jonny Wilkinson, though Olly Barkley, Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty all provide cover from inside centre.

Johnson said he regards “the 64 players we have chosen of very good character”, before admitting that discipline and conduct would be discussed when the squad gets together in August, in the wake of England’s rocky tour of New Zealand.

England’s winter schedule includes Tests against all three Tri-Nations sides at Twickenham. Johnson’s side will warm up against the Pacific Islands on November 8, before taking on Australia first up, world champions South Africa and finally the All Blacks on November 29.

England senior squad

Forwards: S Borthwick (Saracens), G Chuter (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), T Palmer (Wasps), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (London Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps). Backs: O Barkley (Gloucester), D Care (Harlequins), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), R Flutey (Wasps), S Geraghty (London Irish), D Hipkiss (Leicester), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), P Richards (London Irish), P Sackey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tait (Sale), T Varndell (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).

England Saxons

Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), R Blaze (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), J Forster (Gloucester), T Guest (Harlequins), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale), B Kay (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), D Paice (London Irish), G Skivington (Wasps), A Titterrell (Gloucester), J Ward (Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle), N Wood (Gloucester), J Worsley (Wasps). Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), A Allen (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), M Brown (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), A Goode (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Gloucester), U Monye (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), D Waldouck (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale).

About this articleCloseThis article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Tuesday July 01 2008. It was last updated at 12:59 on July 01 2008.

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