Jermaine McGillvary among seven new faces for England
Sunday 11 October 2015 13:09, UK
Super League's top tryscorer Jermaine McGillvary has been included in the England squad for the autumn Internatonal Series.
The Huddersfield wing is rewarded for a fine season with a call-up to a 24-man squad to take on France and New Zealand.
Castleford half-back Luke Gale also makes the cut as one of seven uncapped players alongside McGillvary, Mike Cooper and four with England Academy experience - Warrington forward Ben Currie and Wigan trio John Bateman, Joe Burgess and George Williams.
Sean O'Loughlin captains a squad featuring 16 who toured Australia and New Zealand for last year's Four Nations.
George Burgess, Alex Walmsley, Stevie Ward, Jack Reed, Stefan Ratchford and Joel Tomkins are all due to undergo close-season surgery and were not considered.
Coach Steve McNamara said: "We spent a long time selecting this squad and there were some close calls with a lot of competition for places.
"There is a tremendous challenge in front of us against the best Rugby League nation in the world. New Zealand will be formidable opponents.
"There is a strong core of players that have come through the England system over recent years and have the desire, appetite and quality to do English Rugby League proud in this tournament.
"We are fully aware that we will need to work exceptionally hard and play to a very high level to win the tournament. Our aim is to win our first home series against southern hemisphere opposition since Great Britain defeated New Zealand in 2007."
England play France at Leigh on October 24 before a three-match series against New Zealand, starting at Hull's KC Stadium on November 1.
Squad: J Bateman (Wigan), J Burgess (Wigan), T Burgess (South Sydney), M Cooper (St George Illawarra), L Cudjoe (Huddersfield), B Currie (Warrington), L Farrell (Wigan), B Ferres (Huddersfield), L Gale (Castleford), J Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), R Hall (Leeds), Z Hardaker (Leeds), C Hill (Warrington), J Hodgson (Canberra), J McGillvary (Huddersfield), S O'Loughlin (Wigan, capt), J Roby (St Helens), M Smith (Wigan), S Tomkins (New Zealand Warriors), K Watkins (Leeds), B Westwood (Warrington), E Whitehead (Catalans), G Widdop (St George Illawarra), G Williams (Wigan).
