LONDON (AFP) - England coach Brian Ashton sprang a major surprise by including former rugby league star Lesley Vainikolo in his 32-man squad here Wednesday for the Six Nations Championship.
Tongan-born Vainikolo, whose parents are from New Zealand, qualifies for England on residency grounds following several years with the Bradford Bulls rugby league club.
But the former New Zealand rugby league international only switched to rugby union this season, joining Gloucester, although the wing is the top try-scorer so far in the English Premiership this season with nine tries.
"There's a bit of a wow-factor there. He's got a bit of an X-factor and you don't see many England wings at 6ft 2 and 18 stone," Ashton said of Vainikolo at a Twickenham news conference.
He added: "I first saw him five years ago. He's pretty powerful, explosive and a very good footballer.
"He's got good footwork, is not caught out defensively in union and is a threat all over the field. He's not only a traditional powerhouse wing, he's a very intelligent footballer too."
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 died before Christmas but Ashton said the 28-year-old was expected back in England early next week.
England, who reached the World Cup final before losing 15-6 to South Africa in Paris in October, have omitted six players from their squad in France.
Former Great Britain rugby league international Andy Farrell and fellow centre Dan Hipkiss, 2003 World Cup winner Josh Lewsey and prop Perry Freshwater were among those left.
Scrum-half Shaun Perry was not considered because of injury while utility back Olly Barkley was not included ahead of a court hearing next month on an assault charge relating to an alleged incident at a wedding.
Former England captains Martin Corry, Lawrence Dallaglio (both back-rows), wing/full-back Jason Robinson and centre come fly-half Mike Catt have all announced their international retirements since the World Cup.
"The door is not closed on anyone at all, except those who've closed it on themselves," Ashton said when asked about Lewsey and Farrell's England futures.
Apart from Vainikolo, the other uncapped players are Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani, Sale scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and Leicester flanker Tom Croft.
England World Cup captain Phil Vickery remains the skipper of the squad even though Matt Stevens has been pushing to become the starting tighthead prop.
"I stood by Phil Vickery and Phil Vickery's stood by me," Ashton said. "We need stability and continuity and he's ideally placed to offer that."
This season will be thee last before a new agreement between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership clubs allowing Ashton additional preparation time with England players starts and Ashton said that, following the World Cup, this would be a particularly awkward Six Nations.
"We're half-way through a season and there's not much preparation time," Ashton said.
"The Six Nations is always a difficult tournament. It always seem like we are the Aunt Sallys of the tournament - everyone raises their game to try to beat us."
England begin their Six Nations campaign against Wales at Twickenham on February 2.
Squad
Backs: Iain Balshaw (Gloucester), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Mark Cueto (Sale), Toby Flood (Newcastle), Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins), Charlie Hodgson (Sale), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Peter Richards (London Irish), Paul Sackey (Wasps), David Strettle (Harlequins), Mathew Tait (Newcastle), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Lesley Vainikolo (Gloucester).
Forwards: Steve Borthwick (Bath), Tom Croft (Leicester), George Chuter (Leicester), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Nick Easter (Harlequins), James Haskell (Wasps), Ben Kay (Leicester), Lee Mears (Bath), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Tim Payne (Wasps), Tom Rees (Wasps), Mark Regan (Bristol), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale), Matt Stevens (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps, capt), Joe Worsley (Wasps)
