Michael Cheika names 10 uncapped players in Australia squad for England series

Australia have announced a preliminary 39-man squad for the three-Test series against England in June.

Former Wallabies captain James Horwill, who last played for Australia in August 2015, has got a recall after impressive performances for his new English club, Harlequins.

The former Queensland Reds captain signed a three-year contract with the Quins in 2015 but had expressed his willingness to represent Australia again.

Apart from Horwill, Michael Cheika has called three other overseas players in Bordeaux prop Sekope Kepu, Bath's Leroy Houston and Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Nearly 23 players have been retained from the World Cup squad while 10 uncapped players have been drafted in including Brumbies back-up scrum half Joe Powell and Queensland Reds rugby league convert Code-hopper Karmichael Hunt.

Waratahs number-eight Wycliff Palu has also returned to the squad after the injury he sustained in the World Cup while Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Will Genia and Drew Mitchell have been either rested or unavailable for selection.

The squad is expected to arrive in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday for a preparatory camp after which the squad is expected to be trimmed to 30 players.

Cheika said he had identified a pool of 60 players from which the 39-member squad was picked. He wants the selected players to train with high intensity and build on the momentum from the World Cup in the upcoming training camp as well as in the England series.

"We've been working with an initial squad of 60 players we identified, which has been reduced to 39 for this camp. We'll trim that number down to 30 for each Test, so competition for spots is everything," Cheika said in a statement.

"Our first week in camp will target a high intensity training attitude, building on combinations within that environment. We want to build on the identity we've worked hard on establishing over the past 18 months."

Wallabies squad for England Test series

Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Adam Coleman, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Mike Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty, Greg Holmes, Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, James Horwill, Leroy Houston, Karmichael Hunt, Sekope Kepu Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon Stephen Moore, Luke Morahan, Dean Mumm, Eto Nabuli, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Joe Powell, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith