FORMER Thornbury player Billy Vunipola has been named in England’s Six Nations Championships training party, but he is facing serious threats for his place in the opener against Wales in Cardiff a fortnight tomorrow.

Vunipola was considered to be the natural choice to succeed former Dursley RFC number eight Ben Morgan after the Gloucester ace, who won the Man of the Series in last year’s Autumn Tests, broke his leg this month, ironically playing against Vunipola at Kingsholm when Saracens visited.

But, while England national coach Stuart Lancaster has included the strapping back row star in the 34-man squad ahead of preparations this coming Monday at their retreat of Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey, he has also picked Harlequins’ 36-year-old Nick Easter.

And Lancaster has also added Exeter’s Tom Waldrom in that number eight equation after his selection for England Saxons.

Lancaster, who announced the squads on with the Six Nations party also including Gloucester duo centre Billy Twelvetrees and wing Jonny May, said: “It’s great to welcome back some of those players unavailable for the QBE Internationals in the autumn.

“They offer us a lot of quality and experience – so too Nick Easter, who has played well for Harlequins. With the injury to Ben Morgan, both he and Tom Waldrom in the Saxons will provide us with specialist number eight options alongside Billy Vunipola.

“That’s something we feel we need going into the tournament.”