Last updated 13:39, Tuesday, 07 October 2008

WEST Cumbrian Rob Purdham was today named in the 24-man England World Cup squad for the forthcoming tournament in Australia.

The ex-Whitehaven ace, now 28, is one of eight back-row forwards named in the party, which includes 15 players involved in Saturday’s Super League Grand Final.
The star-studded squad features eight members of this year’s Super League Dream Team as well as four winners of the prestigious Man of Steel award – James Graham, Jamie Peacock, Paul Wellens and James Roby.
England fly Down Under on Monday and face Papua New Guinea in Townsville, in their opening group game, on Saturday, October 25.
They then face probably their biggest challenge against tournament favourites Australia in Melbourne on Sunday, November 2, and New Zealand the following Saturday.
Captained by Jamie Peacock, of Leeds Rhinos, the squad features eight players from Headingley and seven from their Grand Final victims St Helens.

England World Cup squad: Keith Senior, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, Jamie Peacock (captain), Gareth Ellis, Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Lee Smith (all Leeds), Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Leon Pryce, James Graham, James Roby, Maurie Fa’asavalu, Jon Wilkin (all St Helens), Rob Purdham (Harlequins), Mark Calderwood, Mickey Higham, Gareth Hock (all Wigan), Martin Gleeson, Adrian Morley, Ben Westwood (all Warrington), Jamie Langley, Paul Sykes (both Bradford).