LONDON – Stuart Lancaster has announced England’s 2015 Rugby World Cup squad while throwing in a number of selection surprises.
Confirming reports that broke early on Wednesday, Danny Cipriani was excluded from the squad after receiving very little game time during the World Cup warm-up matches in London and Paris respectively. Cipriani was thought to bring an element of flair to the squad however Lancaster has put his faith in Farrell, Ford and potentially Slade to direct England at 10.
Convert Sam Burgess has been selected in the team to play in the centres after just 10 months in the game following his defection from Rugby League. And while many suggested Burgess would fall at the final hurdle, his showing at Twickenham in the first World Cup warm-up match was enough to convince Lancaster of his readiness for test rugby.
In a very surprising selection twist, promising centre and one of the stalwarts in England’s squad during the 2015 6 Nations Luther Burrell has been excluded from the squad.
Scrum half Richard Wigglesworth was also selected in the squad despite being a rank outsider to make the tournament.
England 2015 Rugby World Cup Squad
Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 32 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 22 caps)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
Hookers
Jamie George (Saracens, 1 cap)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
Second rows
George Kruis (Saracens, 8 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 23 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 39 caps)
Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
Back rows
James Haskell (Wasps, 60 caps)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 28 caps)
Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins, 38 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 18 caps)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 37 caps)
Scrum halves
Danny Care (Harlequins, 52 caps)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 22 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 48 caps)
Fly halves
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 30 caps)
George Ford (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Centres
Brad Barritt (Saracens, 22 caps)
Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
Back three
Mike Brown (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Alex Goode (Saracens, 18 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)