Proud Burgess brothers in England World Cup call

The three, along with elder brother Luke, began their rugby league careers at Dewsbury Moor and now play for South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia’s NRL.

Although Sam has represented England on nine occasions, his last in 2010, twins Tom and George are the only uncapped players selected in the 24-man squad.

It is the first time that three brothers have been selected in an England squad and it could have been four but 26-year-old Luke narrowly missed out on being picked by coach Steve McNamara.

The Burgess brothers will join their England teammates on a training camp in South Africa before playing a warm-up game against Italy on Saturday October 19 at Salford.

England’s first World Cup game is against Australia at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on October 26, while the other group games are against Ireland in Huddersfield on November 2 and Fiji in Hull on November 9.

After announcing his squad on Tuesday, McNamara said: “To have a World Cup on home soil is a massive opportunity for the sport and I hope the public will turn up in their numbers and show their support for England.”

Dewsbury-born Danny Brough has been selected to captain Scotland but there is controversy the Huddersfield Giants scrum-half wasn’t considered for England, especially after he was named Super League’s Man of Steel at a ceremony on Monday.

There is other local interest in the World Cup as Kane Bentley has been named in a 24-man French squad.

The hooker played 10 games for Dewsbury Rams in helping them reach the Championship play-offs.