Vainikolo gets surprise England call

Vainikolo, who qualifies for England on residency grounds, signed a three-year contract with Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester last summer.

He is the Premiership's top try scorer this season, and possesses explosive finishing skills, but Vainikolo's selection will court controversy, especially as players such as Josh Lewsey and James Simpson-Daniel have been omitted.

Vainikolo's fellow rugby league recruit Andy Farrell misses out, and there is also no place for Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss. The uncapped players are Vainikolo, Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani, Sale scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and Leicester flanker Tom Croft.

England World Cup captain Phil Vickery is retained as skipper.

Vainikolo is currently in New Zealand, having flown back home last week to deal with what Gloucester termed a "serious family problem."

It is the second time this season he has returned home after his brother passed away before Christmas. Whether Ashton will unleash Vainikolo on the Six Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham on February 2 is unclear.

David Strettle and Paul Sackey would appear to be away and clear as first-choice wing contenders, and it could be Vainikolo will have to content himself with just being part of the squad.

Bath centre Olly Barkley is another casualty, but Gloucester centre Mike Tindall and Sale Sharks fly-half Charlie Hodgson - who both missed the World Cup campaign - are both back in favour.

There is disappointment, though, for several of England's promising young guns. The likes of Nick Abendanon, Jordan Crane, Nick Kennedy, Luke Narraway, Tom Varndell and Ryan Lamb are in the England Saxons - formerly England A - squad.