CHARLIE Sharples has been given an opportunity to impress England head coach Stuart Lancaster ahead of the summer tour to New Zealand.

The Gloucester winger, who grew up in Stroud, was named in a 20-man training squad along with former Dursley youth team-mate Ben Morgan.

The group that reported to the camp at the Lensbury Club in Teddington on Sunday was made up of players from the six Aviva Premiership clubs who finished their season before the play-off semi-finals last weekend, with more due to be added over the coming weeks.

Sharples won the last of his four England caps against Australia in November 2012 and was initially overlooked by the Saxons earlier this year before being called up as a late replacement for their game against Ireland at Kingsholm.

He is now back on Lancaster’s radar after scoring 11 tries in 26 games for a struggling Gloucester side last season and will be hoping to force his way into the touring party to New Zealand, with the first group of players flying out on May 27.

Those who remain at home will be in contention to play for England against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday, June 1, while a second group, mostly made up of players from Premiership finalists Saracens and Northampton, will fly out to join the squad in New Zealand on June 2.

Gloucester’s Freddie Burns, Matt Kvesic, Jonny May, Dan Robson and Henry Trinder were also named in the England training squad.