Parling is one of nine uncapped players named in the squad

Leicester Tigers lock Geoff Parling has said he is thrilled to have been named in the England squad to tour New Zealand and Australia this summer.

The 26-year-old is among nine uncapped players to be selected in Martin Johnson's 44-man squad.

Parling told BBC Radio Leicester: "I'm just really pleased.

"When I came to Leicester Tigers I said I wanted to try and win things and push myself on and hopefully that is what I'm doing."

His Leicester team-mates Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Lewis Moody, Toby Flood and Ben Youngs have also been selected for the tour.

But Parling said his eyes were still on the Tigers' Premiership semi-final against Bath on Sunday (1600 BST).

"This is our season. It's a massive game for us and if we lose then we've wasted a season.

"We are really, really up for Sunday. The pressure is on us to go and perform like we can do.

"It's going to be a hard game. They've got a good back three but we'll keep our shape and hopefully get forward and bash them."

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