Saffa lock to tackle Boks

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Eddie Jones has called up a former DHL Stormers second rower to England’s 36-man squad for the November Tests against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and the Springboks.

There are six uncapped players in the squad, including Somerset West-born David Ribbans.

The 27-year-old attended Somerset College in the Western Cape and, despite not playing any representative rugby at high school, joined the Western Province Institute after school and made his Western Province debut in 2015, also playing a friendly for the Stormers that year.

Ribbans moved to England with Northampton Saints in 2017 and has since become a mainstay in the Premiership side’s second row, alongside Courtney Lawes, making over 100 club appearances. He was first called up to an England training squad in October 2020, but could now make his long-awaited Test debut.

Also potentially making their debuts are Saracens flank Hugh Tizard and Harlequins wing Caden Murley, who previously represented England at U18 and U20 levels.

Jones has made a couple of interesting calls in terms of players left out, with Henry Slade and Elliot Daly not included.

Owen Farrell (97) and Lawes (96) could both reach 100 Test caps for England in November.

Photo: David Ramos – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

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Dylan Jack