Ex-Shark in England squad

London - England coach Stuart Lancaster picked nine uncapped players on Wednesday including Owen Farrell in a rejuvenated 32-man squad for rugby's Six Nations.

With Jonny Wilkinson among those to have retired from international rugby since England's poor World Cup campaign, Lancaster drafted in the young Saracens flyhalf in a group showing 15 changes to the last elite squad picked in August.

Lancaster also called up South Africa's Brad Barritt, Lee Dickson, Calum Clark, Ben Morgan, Jordan Turner-Hall, Phil Dowson, Joe Marler and Rob Webber in an inexperienced squad.

Former Sharks centre Barritt played for the Durban-based team from 2006-2008 before joining the current English champions.

The RFU announced the squad with the 20-year-old Farrell referred to as a center, hinting that he could start England's February 4 opener at Scotland in midfield because of a lack of options in the position.

Manu Tuilagi is in the squad but injured, former captain Mike Tindall has been dropped and Shontayne Hape was also omitted.

With first-choice No 10 Toby Flood injured, Charlie Hodgson has been recalled and could be in line for his first appearance since the World Cup warmups against Wales.

Lancaster is yet to pick a captain.

Fullback Delon Armitage, one of the successes of Martin Johnson's 3-year tenure as team manager, was dropped to the second-tier Saxons squad.

England 32-man elite player squad:

Forwards: Mouritz Botha, Calum Clark, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Louis Deacon, Phil Dowson, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Lee Mears, Ben Morgan, Tom Palmer, Chris Robshaw, Matt Stevens, Rob Webber, David Wilson, Tom Wood

Backs: Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Ben Foden, Charlie Hodgson, Joe Simpson, Charlie Sharples, David Strettle, Manusamoa Tuilagi, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ben Youngs