Experienced players set to miss out on Eddie Jones' squad - reports

England Captain and hooker Dylan Hartley's run of bad luck, when it comes to major competitions, is set to continue according to reports multiple reports in England.

The 33-year-old is set to miss his second Rugby World Cup with a knee injury that has sidelined him since December last year.

Hartley led England to back-to-back Six Nations 2016 and 2017 and is set to miss out on the first of three squads named by head coach Eddie Jones in the build up to the World Cup.

Hartley missed the 2015 Rugby World Cup as well as two British and Irish Lions' tours.

Along with Hartley, the likes of Danny Care and Chris Robshaw are understood to be among the high profile players to miss out on selection.

The squad set to be named on today (Thursday) will not include players that featured in the Premiership semi-finals while uncapped Harlequins loose forward Alex Dombrandt is expected to receive a call-up.

The beaten semi-finalists will join the squad next week with the full squad, including the finalists, being named on July 4.

Care is one of the biggest ommissions as England's second most capped scrumhalf, while Robshaw led the side before Eddie Jones tenure as well as during. The likes of Willie Heinz, Ben Spencer and Ben Youngs are set to be named in the squad while Richard Wigglesworth has been over looked.

Elsewhere, it has been reported that Joe Marler could come out of retirement for the showpiece in Japan after announcing his retirement in September last year. He has reportedly joined the squad but is still weighing up a return to test rugby.

Finally, Northampton's flanker Lewis Ludlam is understood to have a late shot to make the squad.