Stuart Lancaster name England’s World Cup squad

Sam Burgess has been included in England’s World Cup squad by head coach Stuart Lancaster.
The former Rugby League star has been picked over both Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell in midfield with Exeter starlet Henry Slade also getting the nod as a cover for Jonathan Joseph.
Among the other disputed place, Saracens lock is picked over Bath‘s Dave Attwood and Gloucester No.8 Ben Morgan has resisted a late charge from Nick Easter to be included ahead of the Quins veteran.
Jamie George secured the last available hooker position alongside Tom Youngs and Rob Webber while Exeter youngster Luke Cowan-Dickie misses out.
As reported yesterday, Danny Cipriani is not in the squad with George Ford and Owen Farrell named as the fly-halves and Mike Brown and Alex Goode at full-back.

Lancaster said: “It’s really positive that we have such depth and options to choose from. Selection wasn’t easy and it is tough to leave anyone out but it’s important to stress that the players not in this group are still part of our wider squad and could come in at any point.
“After ten weeks in camp we have made our final selection of players and we believe we have a great group to take us into the tournament. With three weeks to go before we play Fiji we feel we are in good shape as we head into next Saturday’s game against Ireland.
“As the excitement builds around the tournament we are looking forward to the country getting behind England and we know this group of players will represent the nation with pride.”
England RWC squad:
Props: Kieran Brookes (Northampton, 10 caps), Dan Cole (Leicester, 51 caps), Joe Marler (Harlequins, 32 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 22 caps), David Wilson (Bath, 43 caps).
Hookers: Jamie George (Saracens, 1 cap), Rob Webber (Bath, 13 caps), Tom Youngs (Leicester, 23 caps).
Second rows: George Kruis (Saracens, 8 caps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 23 caps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton, 39 caps), Geoff Parling (Exeter, 24 caps).
Back rows: James Haskell (Wasps, 60 caps), Ben Morgan (Gloucester, 28 caps), Chris Robshaw (Capt., Harlequins, 38 caps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 18 caps), Tom Wood (Northampton, 37 caps).
Scrum-halves: Danny Care (Harlequins, 52 caps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 22 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester, 48 caps).
Fly-halves: Owen Farrell (Saracens, 30 caps), George Ford (Bath, 12 caps).
Centres: Brad Barritt (Saracens, 22 caps), Sam Burgess (Bath, 1 cap), Jonathan Joseph (Bath, 12 caps), Henry Slade (Exeter, 1 cap).
Back three: Mike Brown (Harlequins, 38 caps), Alex Goode (Saracens, 18 caps), Jonny May (Gloucester, 15 caps), Jack Nowell (Exeter, 9 caps), Anthony Watson (Bath, 10 caps).