IRB Rugby World Cup
Lancaster excited by competition for places as he unveils England's World Cup training squad
Tom Hamilton
May 20, 2015
Maro Itoje
Maro Itoje© Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Cross-code star Sam Burgess has been named among the backs in Stuart Lancaster's 50-man England World Cup training squad which also sees David Strettle brought back in from the cold.

Burgess features among the backs suggesting he is seen primarily as an option in the centres - potentially profiting from Manu Tuilagi's absence - rather than at the back-row where he has recently been playing for Bath.

He is one of seven uncapped players to make the cut and he is joined by ex-England Under-20 captain Maro Itoje. Wasps' Elliot Daly, Leicester's Ed Slater, Northampton's Calum Clark and Exeter pair Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade are also yet to make their full Test debuts but they will be eyeing England's three World Cup warm-ups as an opportunity to win a cap.

Lancaster, as expected, has opted against bringing in Toulon's Steffon Armitage and Clermont's Nick Abendanon. Both have enjoyed remarkable seasons but the England coach has stuck to the Rugby Football Union's policy of not picking those based overseas unless in exceptional circumstances.

For Strettle, it is another shot at international rugby having last played for England in 2013. Despite his impressive form for Saracens at domestic level, Lancaster has frequently overlooked the winger in favour of other options. But Strettle is included at the expense of capped pair Christian Wade of Wasps and Semesa Rokoduguni.

Rokoduguni's Bath team-mate Henry Thomas also misses out as do fellow capped players Northampton's Ben Foden, Worcester's Chris Pennell and Exeter's Thomas Waldrom.

Waldrom's team-mate Dave Ewers is also omitted despite being mooted as a potential World Cup bolter after a remarkable season for the Chiefs. He will get his chance in the Saxons' match against the Barbarians on May 31 alongside Wade.

Gloucester No.8 Ben Morgan has been named despite sitting out the Six Nations after breaking his ankle while Leicester flanker Tom Croft and Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson will join the squad when they recover from their respective injuries.

"It's great to be able to include Alex Corbisiero, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Ed Slater and David Wilson, who missed the Six Nations because of injury and are close to returning to play or have recently begun playing again," said Lancaster.

"There are a lot of experienced internationals within the squad with the likes of Chris Ashton and David Strettle, who are in great form, returning and it's also good to have young players like Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje and Henry Slade in there who have come through our player development pathway and had great seasons for their clubs.

"Ben Foden, Joe Simpson and Tom Croft have not been included at this stage due to ongoing rehabilitation from injury but will hopefully come into consideration nearer the tournament.

"A number of this 50-man squad, such as Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly, Danny Cipriani and Marland Yarde will be involved in the England XV side playing the Barbarians on May 31 following the Premiership semi-finals. There will also be opportunities for the likes of Dave Ewers and Christian Wade who just missed out on the initial selection but could come back in further down the line."

The 50-strong group features 11 players who made the final cut for the notorious 2011 World Cup. The whole group now face the task of breaking into the final 31-man party which will be unveiled in late August following their first two World Cup warm-up matches, both against France.

England World Cup training squad:

Forwards (26): Dave Attwood (Bath), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle), Calum Clark (Northampton), Dan Cole (Leicester), Alex Corbisiero (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Ed Slater (Leicester), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester).

Backs (24): Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton), Sam Burgess (Bath), Danny Care (Harlequins), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jonny May (Gloucester), Stephen Myler (Northampton), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Henry Slade (Exeter), David Strettle (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

To be included when recovered from injury: Joe Simpson (Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester)

© Tom Hamilton

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