Robinson ready to relaunch career

Jason Robinson is ready to relaunch his glittering England career during this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship - but fellow World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio finds himself out in the cold.

While Sale Sharks star Robinson has been summoned from international retirement by new England head coach Brian Ashton, Wasps skipper Dallaglio features in neither a 33-man Six Nations squad nor 32-player England Saxons party for games against Italy A and Ireland A next month.

It could signal the end of 34-year-old Dallaglio as an England player, despite Ashton declaring: "I am sure those players left out will see this as a gauntlet thrown down to prove they are good enough to be part of England's World Cup defence."

Dallaglio, who has struggled to produce consistent form this season, is not the only player overlooked.

Leicester points machine Andy Goode, England fly-half against South Africa barely five weeks ago, also misses out completely, while autumn Test regulars Ben Cohen, Ben Kay and Pat Sanderson have been relegated to Saxons duty.

Ashton, determined to get England back on track following eight defeats in nine Tests that permanently scarred his predecessor Andy Robinson's reign, has named four uncapped players ahead of a Six Nations campaign that starts against Scotland on February 3.

Saracens' high-profile rugby league recruit Andy Farrell, 20-year-old London Irish fly-half Shane Geraghty, Wasps flanker Tom Rees and Bristol's New Zealand-born number eight Dan Ward-Smith all gain Ashton's vote.

But Jason Robinson will set red rose supporters' pulses racing again, returning to England duties some 15 months after quitting Test rugby.

The 32-year-old Sale Sharks full-back won 39 caps before stepping down in September, 2005, and scored England's try during their 2003 World Cup final victory over Australia.

Robinson said: "I am delighted to have been named in the squad, and I am looking forward to meeting up with the players at the end of the month.

"My focus at this moment in time though, is leading Sale Sharks on Saturday evening in a must-win game against Gloucester at Edgeley Park."

Ashton added: "Jason knows what it takes to be at the top of the world game in professional sport.

"Apart from being a fantastic rugby player, he has outstanding values as a person which will be important to the England team in the coming year."

While Robinson will meet some of England's fresh young talent when he reports for training at Twickenham on January 22, he can also reacquaint himself with World Cup colleagues such as 35-year-old Mike Catt, fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, Gloucester centre Mike Tindall and Northampton hooker Steve Thompson.

Catt toured Australia with England last summer, and although he missed out on the autumn Tests, his supreme midfield pedigree has always excited Ashton since the pair first worked together at Bath a dozen years ago.

Catt said: "It's great to get the chance to contribute to England again, and I am looking forward to playing with the likes of Phil Vickery and Jason Robinson.

"There is a good combination of youth and experience among the players. Obviously, I am especially pleased for Shane Geraghty - he is an outstanding talent for the future."

Catt's Coventry-born London Irish colleague Geraghty played for Ireland at U16 level before representing England at every subsequent age group up to, and including, U21s.

Geraghty said: "I am delighted and surprised to be included in the Six Nations squad.

"It is a great honour to be named in the same squad as players like Jason Robinson, Phil Vickery, Martin Corry and Mike Catt. I am fortunate that Mike is also involved as I can continue to benefit from his great experience at international, as well as club, level."

There are six changes to the elite player squad announced last August, with Robinson, Hill, Ward-Smith, Paul Sackey, Matt Stevens and Alex Brown all selected. Dallaglio, Simon Shaw and Mark Van Gisbergen drop out, together with injured trio Andrew Sheridan, Charlie Hodgson and Michael Lipman.

The Saxons squad, which will be coached by Jim Mallinder and Dorian West, features fit-again World Cup flanker Richard Hill, Bath's ex-Leeds Rhinos rugby league ace Chev Walker and exciting Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb.

Almost half the group have already gained senior England honours, including Bath lock Steve Borthwick, who is expected to begin his comeback later this month following knee surgery.