Catt laps up England World Cup place

England boss Clive Woodward today announced his 30-man World Cup squad – and there are no places for Lions Austin Healey, Graham Rowntree and Simon Shaw.

The unfortunate trio will miss out on England’s autumn bid for global supremacy in Australia being joined on the sidelines by Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel and Leicester centre Ollie Smith.

There is a call-up for Bath fly-half Mike Catt, who won the last of his 56 caps against South Africa in November 2001.

Injuries to Charlie Hodgson and Alex King created a vacancy for a third fly-half behind Jonny Wilkinson and Paul Grayson, and 31-year-old Catt has got the nod.

Catt was riddled with injury problems last season, but he came through a rigorous day of fitness testing with the England management last week, and will now travel Down Under.

Wasps’ Cape Town-born centre Stuart Abbott, who qualifies for England through his mother, also makes it, as does Bath back Iain Balshaw, a star of last night’s victory over France at Twickenham.

Leicester forward Martin Corry, outstanding in England’s warm-up Tests, gains one of six back-row slots.

England squad for World Cup:

Full-backs/wings: I Balshaw (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton), J Lewsey (Wasps), D Luger (Perpignan), J Robinson (Sale).

Centres: S Abbott (Wasps), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath).

Fly-halves: M Catt (Bath), P Grayson (Northampton), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).

Scrum-halves: K Bracken (Saracens), M Dawson (Northampton), A Gomarsall (Gloucester).

Props: J Leonard (Harlequins), P Vickery (Gloucester), J White (Leicester), T Woodman (Gloucester).

Hookers: M Regan (Leeds), S Thompson (Northampton), D West (Leicester).

Second rows: (D Grewcock (Bath), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), B Kay (Leicester)

Back rows: N Back (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps), R Hill (Saracens), L Moody (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps).