England RL squads

The ETS squad includes 19 players who were involved in the 2011 Gillette Four Nations and eight players who are uncapped by England, including Catalan Dragons’ Torquay-born hooker Ian Henderson who has been in outstanding form this season in the Stobart Super League.

There is also a return to the England squad for Wigan Warriors forward Gareth Hock, who last played on the international stage in June 2009 when England defeated France 66-12 in Paris.

The ETS players will meet up at their Loughborough base next week alongside the England Knights squad and there will be a further four camps throughout this year including a 10-day high altitude camp in the autumn.

“Over the past 12 months we have made excellent progress throughout our international programme,” said McNamara.

“We now have a long term plan with our programme of activity in place for the next two years. This approach, as we continue to build up to the Rugby League World Cup, gives me and the players’ clarity and a clear structure.

“We have two very exciting squads that can build on last year’s efforts on reaching the Gillette Four Nations final. In addition I am monitoring on a weekly basis our eight Australian based players, who will play a pivotal role in our plans. Our aim now is to retain the current crop of players and realise our ambition of winning the Rugby League World Cup in 2013.”

The average age of the ETS is just 26.8 while the average of the Knights is 22.6.

Super League reigning champions Leeds Rhinos have the most players in both squads with 12 representatives and there are a further 10 clubs represented from the Stobart Super League across both squads.

Joining Henderson and Hock in the ETS are Leeds Rhinos exciting centre pairing Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker and Wigan duo Josh Charnley and Lee Mossop. All four have been promoted into the elite squad after being involved with the Knights in 2011.

England will start their 2012 campaign with two matches against the Exiles in the summer and an international triangular series in the autumn against European counterparts France and Wales.

England Knights will play Ireland in June and will join Ireland, Italy and Scotland in the Alitalia Cup in the autumn.

2012 England Elite Training Squad

(Professional club and community club in brackets):

Carl Ablett Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Parkside

Ryan Bailey Leeds Rhinos, Milford

Chris Bridge Warrington Wolves, Waterhead

Tom Briscoe Hull FC, Featherstone Lions

Danny Brough Huddersfield Giants, Eastmoor Dragons

Rob Burrow Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions

Garreth Carvell Warrington Wolves, Stanningley

Josh Charnley Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks

Rangi Chase Castleford Tigers, Dannevirke Tigers

Eorl Crabtree Huddersfield Giants, Huddersfield YMCA

Leroy Cudjoe Huddersfield Giants, Newsome Panthers

Ryan Hall Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders

Zak Hardaker Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions

Ian Henderson Catalan Dragons, Terrigal

Gareth Hock Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Judes

Ben Jones-Bishop Leeds Rhinos, Queens

Jamie Jones-Buchanan Leeds Rhinos, Stanningley

Jonny Lomax St Helens, Orrell St James

Danny McGuire Leeds Rhinos, East Leeds

Michael McIlorum Wigan Warriors, Queens

Adrian Morley Warrington Wolves, Eccles

Lee Mossop Wigan Warriors, Hensingham

Sean O’Loughlin Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks

Jamie Peacock (captain) Leeds Rhinos, Stanningley

James Roby St Helens, Blackbrook

Kevin Sinfield Leeds Rhinos, Waterhead

Sam Tomkins Wigan Warriors. Wigan St Patricks

Kallum Watkins Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion

Kris Welham Hull KR, Myton Warriors

Ben Westwood Warrington Wolves, Normanton

Jon Wilkin St Helens, East Hull

Kirk Yeaman Hull FC, Myton Warriors

2012 England Knights Squad

(Professional club and community club in brackets):

Joe Arundel Castleford Tigers, Castleford Panthers

Jodie Broughton Salford City Reds, Queens

Chris Clarkson Leeds Rhinos, East Leeds

Paul Clough St Helens, Blackbrook

Mike Cooper Warrington Wolves, Latchford Albion

Rhys Evans Warrington Wolves, Burtonwood Bulldogs

Liam Farrell Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Pats

Dale Ferguson Huddersfield Giants, Featherstone Lions

Mark Flanagan St Helens, Saddleworth Rangers

Lee Gaskell St Helens, Blackbrook

Josh Hodgson Hull KR, Hull Dockers

Danny Houghton Hull FC, East Hull

Shaun Lunt Huddersfield Giants, Ellenborough Rangers

Jermaine McGillvary Huddersfield Giants, Deighton Juniors

Richie Myler Warrington Wolves, Halton West Bank

Larne Patrick Huddersfield Giants, Townville Tigers

Stefan Ratchford Warrington Wolves, Wigan St Patricks

Chris Riley Warrington Wolves, Woolston Rovers

Matty Smith Salford City Reds, Blackbrook

Scott Taylor Hull KR, Skirlaugh

Liam Watts Hull KR, Featherstone Lions

Joe Wardle Huddersfield Giants, Ovenden

Gary Wheeler St Helens, Blackbrook Royals

Elliot Whitehead Bradford Bulls, West Bowling.