England coach Clive Woodward today named a 43-man squad to prepare for the matches against Wales and France in August and September.
The squad, which will be cut to a final 30 on September 8th, is made up of the 30 players involved in the summer Test matches in New Zealand and Australia, with the remaining places filled by players who took part in the Churchill Cup and a number of others who were not eligible for the two tours through injury and suspension.
"I've announced an initial 43-man squad, which will be cut to a final 30 on September 8th ahead of the World Cup and after three tough and challenging games," Woodward said today.
"The squad is made up of the 30 players who prepared for the summer test matches in New Zealand and Australia, with the remaining places filled by those involved in the Churchill Cup and a number of players who weren't eligible for the two tours through injury and suspension.
"I'd like to congratulate everyone involved in the Churchill Cup and Japan tour, especially the coaches, Jim Mallinder and Steve Diamond, who made a huge contribution to the tour and gave me important feedback for the selection of the squad.
"This squad of players is based on the fact that everyone is fit to play in the three World Cup preparation games. There are still a couple of players who have an outside chance of making the squad on September 8 and I will be monitoring them through their clubs."
England Squad:
Backs: Abbott (Wasps), Balshaw (Bath), Bracken (Saracens), Cohen (Northampton), Dawson (Northampton), Greenwood (Harlequins), King (Wasps), Gomarsall (Gloucs), Grayson (Northampton), Healey (Leicester), Lewsey (Wasps), Luger (Perpignan), Noon (Newcastle), Robinson (Sale), Scarbrough (Leeds), Simpson-Daniel (Gloucs), Smith (Leicester), Tindall (Bath), Walder (Newcastle), Wilkinson (Newcastle).
Forwards: Back (Leicester), Borthwick (Bath), Corry (Leicester), Dallaglio (Wasps), Green (Wasps), Grewcock (Bath), Hazell (Gloucester), Hill (Saracens), Johnson (Leicester), Kay (Leicester), Leonard (Harlequins), Moody (Leicester), Regan (Leeds), Rowntree (Leicester), Sanderson (Sale), Shaw (Wasps), Titterell (Sale), Thompson (Northampton), Vickery (Gloucester), West (Leicester), White (Leicester), Woodman (Gloucs), Worsley (Wasps).