England squad announcement: Danny Cipriani left out of autumn internationals by Eddie Jones

Gloucester fly-half is left out of a second consecutive England squad, putting his 2019 Rugby World Cup hopes in major doubt

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Danny Cipriani has been left out of the England squad for the autumn internationals, with his hopes of playing at next year’s Rugby World Cup now hanging by a thread.

The Gloucester fly-half has been in sparkling form this season since moving from Wasps to Kingsholm, claiming the September Premiership Player of the Month award in the process, but it has not been enough to secure him a place in the squad for next month’s matches against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.

The 30-year-old has not been included in the last two squads, having been left out of the training camp in Bristol in September, and his latest omission suggests he is not part of Jones’ plans for the World Cup in Japan next year.

In Cipriani's absence, George Ford and Owen Farrell will cover fly-half, with the latter named as co-captain alongside Dylan Hartley as the hooker returns to the side after missing the summer tour of South Africa with concussion.

Chris Ashton is also named in the side, despite not playing a single match this season for Sale Sharks after receiving a seven-week ban for a tip-tackle on Castres’ Rory Kockott in pre-season.

Ben Morgan is also included for the first time under Jones, having not played for England since the 2015 Rugby World Cup. With Billy Vunipola, Sam Simmonds and Nathan Hughes absent - the latter banned in the early hours of Thursday morning for six weeks after punching Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow - Gloucester No 8 Morgan is brought in to join Zach Mercer, who is yet to make his first competitive England appearance.

Chris Ashton is in the squad despite not playing a minute this season (Getty)

Chris Ashton is also named in the side, despite not playing a single match this season for Sale Sharks after receiving a seven-week ban for a tip-tackle on Castres’ Rory Kockott in pre-season.

Despite England’s injury crisis at loosehead prop - with Mako Vunipola, Ellis Genge, Beno Obano and Matt Mullan injured and Joe Marler retired - Jones has only named two recognised players in Exeter Chiefs duo Ben Moon and Alec Hepburn, leaving Gloucester’s Val Rapava Ruskin out of the fold along with Bath’s Nathan Catt and Harlequins’ Lewis Boyce.

Jones has also named Worcester Warriors back-row Ted Hill as an apprentice, with the 19-year-old set to join up with the squad for the first time.

Manu Tuilagi and Ben Te’o are named as Jones looks to try and mould a new back line that sees Farrell at 10 and a power-runner outside him, but there is no space for experienced campaigners Dan Cole and James Haskell.

England are also without 16 players for the entire autumn international campaign, with the likes of Billy and Mako Vunipola, Chris Robshaw and Joe Launchbury all ruled out of the autumn campaign.

“I’m really happy with this squad,” said Jones. “We can only control what we control and injuries have happened. It gives an opportunity for some good new players to play some importance Tests for England while players who have been in the squad before will have to take on more responsibility.”

England squad in full

Front row: Ben Moon, Alec Hepburn, Dylan Hartley, Jamie George, Harry Williams, Kyle Sinckler, Nick Schonert

Second row: Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Elliot Stooke

Back row: Brad Shields, Tom Curry, Zach Mercer, Ben Morgan, Michael Rhodes, Sam Underhill, Mark Williams, Charlie Ewels, Ted Hill*

Scrum halves: Danny Care, Ben Youngs, Richard Wigglesworth

Fly halves: Owen Farrell, George Ford

Centres: Henry Slade, Ben Te'o, Manu Tuilagi, Alex Lozowski

Back three: Elliot Daly, Jack Nowell, Joe Cokanasiga, Mike Brown, Nathan Earle, Jonny May, Chris Ashton.