Anthony Allen has been included in the EPS © Getty Images

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News: England tweak Elite Player Squad

Players/Officials: Richard Cockerill

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Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill has claimed that his side "must be doing something right" after seeing a number of his players named in England's Elite Player Squad.

Both Anthony Allen and Thomas Waldrom were both included in the full squad after impressing while on tour in South Africa. They are joined in the EPS by Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Geoff Parling, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood and Manu Tuilagi. And they also have substantial representation in the Saxons with Graham Kitchener, Tom Youngs, George Ford and Louis Deacon all featuring. They are also joined by new Tiger Miles Benjamin.

Cockerill's side struggled during the World Cup last year when they were void of their international contingent but he has claimed that they are used to surviving without their England stars.

"It shows the strength of the club and the quality of both the young and more experienced players that we have got," Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury. "It's nice to see Anthony Allen get his opportunity and I am pleased that Thomas Waldrom has held his place after impressing in the Tests.

"Thomas proved he could match his performances and physicality with Leicester when given the chance at Test level, and that is very hard to do against South Africa. There are some question marks over the fitness of Tom Croft and Ben Youngs, but they will come and get fit with us during the summer."

"It's good to see Graham Kitchener and Tom Youngs in the Saxons after touring with the England party and playing in midweek games, along with Miles Benjamin and George Ford. And Louis Deacon is in there as someone they can call upon for experience.

"The core of the EPS and 25% of its contents are from Tigers. That shows that we must be doing something right. It's always important that we have a strong England contingent.

"But for us, that presents the usual worries of having to manage with them not being here for close to a third of the season. Such is life. We are used to that."