Burgess makes England cut
Rugby League convert Sam Burgess is one of the new additions to the England squad.
England coach Stuart Lancaster on Wednesday named a 50-man group to begin preparing for the World Cup tournament – which starts against Fiji at Twickenham on September 18.
The squad will meet up at Pennyhill Park on Monday, June 22, to begin preparing for the global showpiece on home soil.
Maro Itoje is another new face, as England's 20-year-old Junior World Cup-winning captain makes the step up to senior national team – just 11 months to the day after Saracens' brilliant young lock lifted the Under-20 trophy in New Zealand.
He will be joined by Chris Ashton and David Strettle – Red Rose old boys rewarded for a year of try-scoring excellence away from the Test spotlight.
However, there are no places for France-based duo Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon, nor for Christian Wade, Dave Ewers or the Premiership's top try-scorer, Exeter No.8 Thomas Waldrom.
England will face France home and away, as well as Ireland at Twickenham as part of the their build towards the World Cup.
"We are excited to name this extended squad which allows us to look at a wide group of players who have been pushing hard for selection in training with us or playing well for their clubs this season," Lancaster said.
"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.
"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 members in 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 semifinals.
"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 England squad to play the Barbarians will be announced on Sunday, once the Premiership finalists are known – as a number of players from the losing semifinalists could be involved.
Players from Gloucester would also not be considered should they reach the European Rugby Champions Cup qualification Final.
This training squad is set to be reduced prior to the training camp in Denver and subsequently reduced again as the internationals approach, with the final 31 players for the World Cup being announced by the August 31 deadline.
England fixtures:
Pre-World Cup:
May 31: England XV v Barbarians, Twickenham Stadium, Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
August 15: England v France, Twickenham Stadium, , Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)
August 22: France v England, Stade de France, , Kick-off: 21.00 (20.00 UK time; 19.00 GMT)
September 5: England v Ireland, Twickenham Stadium, , Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT)
World Cup:
September 18: England v Fiji, Twickenham Stadium, Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)
September 26: England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)
October 3: England v Australia, Twickenham Stadium, Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)
October 10: England v Uruguay, Manchester City Stadium, Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)
