Sam Burgess handed England starting berth

Sam Burgess will start England's opening Rugby World Cup warm-up clash against France next weekend.

The rugby league convert is one of three uncapped players to be named by head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Bath Rugby centre Burgess will play alongside fellow new boy Henry Slade, while flanker Calum Clark is also given the nod.

Luke Cowan-Dickie could earn his maiden cap from the bench, meanwhile, in a squad that is captained by Tom Wood for the first of a double-header against Les Blues.

Elsewhere, four British and Irish Lions have been selected in the 23-man group - Alex Corbisiero, Owen Farrell, Geoff Parling and Mako Vunipola.

England team to face France: Alex Goode, Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Sam Burgess, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Rob Webber, Kieran Brooks, George Kruis, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood, Calum Clark, Ben Morgan

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Alex Corbisiero, David Wilson, Dave Attwood, James Haskell, Danny Care, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees

Written by
Daniel Lewis