Full-back Jason Robinson, centre Will Greenwood and lock Ben Kay have all been given the summer off.

England face the All Blacks in Dunedin and Auckland on June 12 and 19, followed by a June 26 World Cup final rematch against Australia at Brisbanes Suncorp Stadium.

Woodward will take 17 of the victorious World Cup with him, with six players - Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Jason Leonard, Kyran Bracken, Paul Grayson and Dorian West - having now retired from Test rugby, and four more - Jonny Wilkinson, Iain Balshaw, Phil Vickery and Lewis Moody - unavailable through injuries.

Perpignan wing Dan Luger has again been overlooked, while the 30-man party includes four uncapped players - Leicester scrum-half Harry Ellis, Bath prop Matt Stevens, Sale Sharks hooker Andy Titterrell and Bath flanker Michael Lipman.

Ellis celebrated his 22nd birthday on Monday, while 21-year-old Stevens, Titterrell (23) and Lipman (24) also have early chances to impress on the long road towards World Cup 2007.

Elsewhere, in-form Wasps wing Tom Voyce is called up almost three years after his solitary previous England appearance, and Bath prop David Flatman ends two years in Test exile after an outstanding season for the English Premiership finalists.

With World Cup hero Wilkinson sidelined, Sale Sharks Charlie Hodgson and Baths Olly Barkley will contest the number 10 jersey.

Despite a list of high-profile absentees, Woodward is delighted with the squad chosen to defend Englands 12-Test unbeaten record against Tri-Nations opposition.

This is an outstanding team for the tour, and will be a tremendous opportunity for players such as Hodgson, (James) Simpson-Daniel, Christophers, Lipman, Stevens and Ellis to
step up to the mark, he said.

I would also like to welcome back into the squad players such as Tom Voyce and Fraser Waters. Im confident they will all grasp this huge opportunity.

Ive decided to rest Robinson, Kay and Greenwood at the moment, and I look forward to the prospect of them returning to the squad later.


England squad to tour New Zealand and Australia next month: Backs: S Abbott (Wasps), O Barkley (Bath), M Catt (Bath), P Christophers (Leeds), B Cohen (Northampton), M Dawson (Northampton), H Ellis (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tindall (Bath), T Voyce (Wasps), F Waters (Wasps).
Forwards: S Borthwick (Bath), M Corry (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps), D Flatman (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), R Hill (Saracens), C Jones (Sale Sharks), M Lipman (Bath), M Regan (Leeds), S Shaw (Wasps), M Stevens (Bath), S Thompson (Northampton), A Titterrell (Sale Sharks), A White (Leicester), T Woodman (Gloucester), J Worsley (Wasps).