The Cumbrian earned his first two caps during last summer’s test series victory in Argentina and has been a key feature of a Newcastle side enjoying their best season in two decades.

He will fly out as part of a 34-man England squad, with test matches against South Africa in Johannesburg (June 9), Bloemfontein (June 16) and Cape Town (June 23). All matches kick off at 1605 UK time.

England head coach Eddie Jones said: “Our tour to South Africa will be the most exciting challenge for us as a group since 2016. We have an opportunity to create some history next month and win the Test series, something no England side has done before.

“There are a number of players out injured or not selected so it provides a big opportunity for others.

“With three weeks to prepare for the first Test in Johannesburg I am expecting players to come into camp with the right mind-set and we will be looking for them to break the mould in terms of being more assertive and on the front foot in everything we do.

“We will need to be physically aggressive and tactically smart against the Springboks who we know will be combative and reinvigorated by their new coaching set-up.”

**England squad for South Africa tour**

**Backs**

**Full backs**

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Elliot Daly (Wasps)

Nathan Earle (Saracens) *

Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)

Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)

**Inside backs**

Danny Cipriani (Wasps)

Owen Farrell (Saracens)

George Ford (Leicester Tigers)

Alex Lozowski (Saracens)

Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks) *

Dan Robson (Wasps) *

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)

Ben Spencer (Saracens) *

Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

**Forwards**

**Back five**

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

Ben Earl (Saracens) *

Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs) *

Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)

Maro Itoje (Saracens)

Joe Launchbury (Wasps)

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

Brad Shields (Hurricanes/ Wasps) *

Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Jack Willis (Wasps) *

Mark Wilson (Newcastle)

**Front row**

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)

Jamie George (Saracens)

Joe Marler (Harlequins)

Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

** = Uncapped.*