England have named wings Chris Ashton and David Strettle in a 50-man World Cup training squad that also includes rugby league convert Sam Burgess.
Saracens pair Ashton and Strettle, the Aviva Premiership's most clinical finishers, have been given the chance to press their claims to selection for the global showpiece this autumn.
Ashton was last capped during the summer tour to New Zealand a year ago while Strettle has not been involved since June 2013 after slipping behind Jack Nowell, Jonny May, Anthony Watson, Marland Yarde and Christian Wade in the pecking order.
Wade, however, is absent from the 50 who will gather at Pennyhill Park on 22 June to begin preparations for the home World Cup, which opens against Fiji at Twickenham on 18 September.
As expected, there is no place for Steffon Armitage or Nick Abendanon with head coach Stuart Lancaster refusing to activate the 'exceptional circumstances' contingency that would enable him to select overseas-based players.
England's head coach insists his priority must be to protect the interests of club and country.
"Where does it leave you if more and more players go overseas? In my opinion, it leaves you in a weaker position," Lancaster said.
"Having our players play for English clubs is a hugely important factor for the short, medium and long-term health of the game. We believe it's our responsibility as national coaches to protect that.
"Also, when the policy came out there was a commitment from a group of players to the England team.
"There were those players who were in England at time and there were some who made the decision to return to England. For the last three years they have dedicated themselves to the shirt.
"We believe that dedication and commitment would be eroded were we to change the policy now.
"Inevitably, the situation would change after the World Cup in that overseas (players) would not be available to play for England again. Within that there are a whole series of dynamics we don't want."
Burgess features in England's summer plans just six months into his union education, although doubt persists over what position he will be asked to fill.
Bath have picked Burgess at blindside flanker in recent weeks and the 26-year-old has responded by playing his best rugby in the new code, but Lancaster is still thought to regard him as an inside centre.
England are short on midfield firepower after Manu Tuilagi was suspended by Lancaster until January for assaulting a taxi driver and two female police offers.
Other than Burgess, there are five uncapped players in Maro Itoje, Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daley and Calum Clarke.
"We are excited to name this extended squad which allows us to look at a wide group of players who have been pushing hard for selection in training with us or playing well for their clubs this season," Lancaster said.
"It's great to be able to include Alex Corbisiero, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Ed Slater and David Wilson, who missed the Six Nations because of injury and are close to returning to play or have recently begun playing again.
"There are a lot of experienced internationals within the squad with the likes of Chris Ashton and David Strettle, who are in great form, returning."
England World Cup training squad (50): C Ashton, D Attwood, B Barritt, K Brookes, M Brown, L Burrell, S Burgess, D Care, D Cipriani, C Clark, D Cole, A Corbisiero, L Cowan-Dickie, E Daly, L Dickson, K Eastmond, N Easter, O Farrell, G Ford, A Goode, D Hartley, J Haskell, M Itoje, J Joseph, C Lawes, J Launchbury, G Kruis, M Kvesic, J Marler, J May, S Myler, B Morgan, M Mullan, J Nowell, G Parling, C Robshaw, H Slade, E Slater, D Strettle, B Twelvetrees, M Vunipola, B Vunipola, A Watson, R Webber, R Wigglesworth, D Wilson, T Wood, M Yarde, B Youngs, T Youngs.
