• Six Nations

Hape handed surprise England call

Shontayne Hape has earned first England call-up © Getty Images

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England manager Martin Johnson has called on Bath's former New Zealand rugby league international Shontayne Hape for his Six Nations campaign, and has also called Northampton's prolific wing Chris Ashton into the squad as injury cover.

Ashton is promoted from the Saxons in place of Phil Vickery, with the veteran Wasps tight-head to miss the tournament with a neck injury, while Hape's selection follows a strong start to the season in a struggling Bath side.

Johnson has also selected Ashton's talented team-mate Ben Foden as an option at fullback, while Delon Armitage, Riki Flutey and Toby Flood all return from injury. There is no place in the squad for Shane Geraghty, who started England's November Tests in the centre, or Danny Cipriani, with both players named in the Saxons squad.

Another Northampton product handed a call-up is blockbusting lock Courtney Lawes, who replaces the veteran Ben Kay and will be in the mix to partner skipper Steve Borthwick in the second-row.

Sale prop Andrew Sheridan has been named in the squad despite his shoulder injury, with Julian White and Tim Payne the other options at prop. Injury worries have forced Johnson to overlook Joe Worsley and Mike Tindall.

England Senior EPS squad:

Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), S Borthwick (Saracens), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), S Thompson (CA Brive), J White (Leicester), D Wilson (Bath)

Backs: D Armitage (London Irish), C Ashton (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), B Foden (Northampton), R Flutey (CA Brive), S Hape (Bath), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), M Tait (Sale Sharks), J Wilkinson (Toulon).

© ESPN EMEA LTD