SALE Sharks star Charlie Hodgson has missed out on Brian Ashton's 30-man World Cup squad.

Mike Tindall is another big name casualty, with Sale represented by Mark Cueto and Andrew Sheridan.

Ex-Great Britain rugby league star Andy Farrell has been selected despite having made just four Test appearances.

Nick Abendanon, Danny Cipriani, Toby Flood, Kevin Yates, Tom Palmer and James Haskell have failed to make it for England’s Webb Ellis Trophy defence in France next month.

Centre Mike Catt, 36 next month, will equal Jason Leonard’s England record of featuring in four World Cup tournaments, while 35-year-old Wasps back-row star Lawrence Dallaglio has also been selected.

There are 12 survivors from England’s original 2003 World Cup squad, plus Wasps lock Simon Shaw, who travelled to Australia four years ago as a replacement but did not play.

Ashton put the finishing touches to his squad yesterday following England’s 21-15 tournament warm-up defeat against France at Twickenham.

The survivors from 2003 are Dallaglio, Vickery, Catt, Jason Robinson, Josh Lewsey, Jonny Wilkinson, Andy Gomarsall, Mark Regan, Martin Corry, Ben Kay, Lewis Moody and Joe Worsley.

England squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup:

Backs: M Cueto (Sale Sharks), P Sackey (Wasps), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Robinson (unattached), M Tait (Newcastle), D Hipkiss (Leicester), J Noon (Newcastle), M Catt (London Irish), A Farrell (Saracens), O Barkley (Bath), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), S Perry (Bristol), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), P Richards (London Irish).

Forwards: A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), P Freshwater (Perpignan), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), M Stevens (Bath), M Regan (Bath), G Chuter (Leicester), L Mears (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins), L Dallaglio (Wasps).

What is your verdict on the squad? Have your say.

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