World Cup:England coach Brian Ashton has turned to Lawrence Dallaglio for the first time and offered the veteran Wasps captain a route to the World Cup.
Dallaglio (34) had been out of the England picture since the 2006 RBS Six Nations but his form in leading Wasps to victory in the Heineken European Cup earned him a place in Ashton's 47-man World Cup training squad.
Dallaglio is joined in the extended party by 10 Wasps team-mates - the most of any English Premiership club - and 14 other members of England's victorious 2003 World Cup squad.
"Someone like Lawrence is never off the radar for a whole variety of reasons," said Ashton. "By his own admission, he wasn't playing well enough to be picked for the Six Nations. Once the Heineken Cup got to the knockout phases, he suddenly demonstrated he is good enough to play again and influence a game at that level."
But England's backrow options are strong and Ashton insisted Dallaglio still has work to do if he is to make the final 30-man World Cup squad, which must be named on August 14th.
There was no place in the squad for Danny Grewcock after the Bath lock was handed a punching ban which rules him out of the August warm-up Tests and England's first two World Cup matches, including the vital pool match against South Africa.
But Grewcock yesterday lodged an appeal and, if that was to be successful, Ashton would revisit his selection.
Other notable absentees include Iain Balshaw and James Simpson-Daniel. England were badly outmuscled in South Africa and Ashton has looked to increase their physicality with the inclusion of players like Dallaglio, the uncapped Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss, recalled lock Simon Shaw, centres Andy Farrell and Fraser Waters, prop Kevin Yates and hooker Mark Regan.
Centre Mike Tindall (broken leg) and the uncapped number eight Dan Ward-Smith (shoulder) have both been named in the hope they will be fit to feature when the tournament kicks-off in September. Additionally, Ashton confirmed Leicester captain Martin Corry will primarily be considered as a lock.
England Squad
Backs:Nick Abendanon, Olly Barkley, Mike Catt, Danny Cipriani, Mark Cueto, Andrew Farrell, Toby Flood, Shane Geraghty, Andrew Gomarsall, Dan Hipkiss, Charlie Hodgson, Josh Lewsey, Olly Morgan, Jamie Noon, Shaun Perry, Peter Richards, Jason Robinson, Paul Sackey, David Strettle, Mathew Tait, Mike Tindall, Fraser Waters, Jonny Wilkinson.
Forwards:Steve Borthwick, George Chuter, Martin Corry, Lawrence Dallaglio, Louis Deacon, Nick Easter, Perry Freshwater, James Haskell, Andrew Hazell, Ben Kay, Magnus Lund, Lee Mears, Lewis Moody, Tom Palmer, Tom Rees, Mark Regan, Simon Shaw, Andrew Sheridan, Matt Stevens, Phil Vickery, Dan Ward-Smith, Julian White, Joe Worsley, Kevin Yates.
