MATT CAIRNS, Kevin Yates and Andy Farrell have all been named in Brian Ashton's 30-man England squad for the forthcoming two test tour of South Africa.

Hooker Cairns is one of seven uncapped players called up as Ashton is forced to make wholesale changes to his regular squad due to injuries and club commitments.

Prop Yates will be looking to add to the two caps he earned on England's 1997 tour of Argentina while Farrell will be keen to show he can still cut it on the international stage despite being harshly pillored by critics for his recent Six Nations displays.

"If you look at some of the experienced characters as well as some of the younger players who have recently appeared on the international scene it's an interesting mixture," said Ashton.

"It's going to be an enormous challenge for these players. "We are under no illusions - it is going to be an incredibly tough two-and-a-half weeks but I don't expect any of the players or management to back down from that challenge."

England squad to play the Springboks in Bloemfontein on May 26 and Pretoria on June 2:

Forwards

Alex Brown (Gloucester Rugby) Peter Buxton (Gloucester Rugby) Matt Cairns (Saracens) Darren Crompton (Bristol Rugby) Nick Easter (NEC Harlequins) Andy Hazell (Gloucester Rugby) Chris Jones (Sale Sharks) Magnus Lund (Sale Sharks) Mark Regan (Bristol Rugby) Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors) Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks) Andy Titterrell (Sale Sharks) Stuart Turner (Sale Sharks) Roy Winters (Bristol Rugby) Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby) Kevin Yates (Saracens)

Backs

Anthony Allen (Gloucester Rugby) Mike Brown (NEC Harlequins) Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints) Andy Farrell (Saracens) Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons) Andy Gomarsall (NEC Harlequins) Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons) Shaun Perry (Bristol Rugby) Jason Robinson (capt, Sale Sharks) Peter Richards (Gloucester Rugby) James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby) David Strettle (NEC Harlequins) Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons) Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons)