Rugby World Cup

Hosts: England and Wales Dates: 18 September-31 October

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and sports extra, BBC Radio Wales and in Welsh on BBC Radio Cymru, plus live text commentary on every match on the BBC Sport website.

Sam Burgess has been included in England's 31-man squad for the World Cup, which starts next month.

Rugby league convert Burgess only made his union debut for Bath in November and won his first England cap against France in August.

The 26-year-old's inclusion means there is no place for fellow centre Luther Burrell, a regular during the past two Six Nations campaigns.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster has also left out fly-half Danny Cipriani.

Cipriani's omission comes despite the 27-year-old Sale player putting in an impressive performance off the bench in the 25-20 defeat by France in Paris on Saturday.

Exeter's Henry Slade, 22, is named as one of four centres alongside Burgess, Saracens' Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph of Bath, while Kieran Brookes is picked ahead of loose-head Alex Corbisiero, who has struggled with fitness recently.

Ben Morgan is named as one of the back rows, despite having played just 40 minutes of competitive rugby since suffering a broken leg and, in the second row, George Kruis has beaten Dave Attwood to a spot in the 31.

The other players to miss out are centre Billy Twelvetrees, number eight Nick Easter, flanker Calum Clark and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.

'Selection wasn't easy'

Stuart Lancaster (centre)

Stuart Lancaster (centre): "We know this group of players will represent the nation with pride."

Head coach Lancaster, whose side begin their tournament against Fiji at Twickenham on 18 September, said: "It's really positive that we have such depth and options to choose from.

"Selection wasn't easy and it is tough to leave anyone out but it's important to stress that the players not in this group are still part of our wider squad and could come in at any point.

"After 10 weeks in camp we have made our final selection of players and we believe we have a great group to take us into the tournament.

"With three weeks to go before we play Fiji we feel we are in good shape as we head into next Saturday's game against Ireland.

"As the excitement builds around the tournament we are looking forward to the country getting behind England and we know this group of players will represent the nation with pride."

Jason Robinson tweet

World Cup winner Jason Robinson tweeted about Sam Burgess's inclusion

Burgess is not ready - Carling

England backs coach Andy Farrell, who himself converted from rugby league to play in the 2007 World Cup with England, said of Burgess: "To force our hand to put him into the squad, he should be unbelievably proud of himself."

However, earlier this week, former England captain Will Carling said that Burgess should not be taken to the World Cup after frequently being caught out of position against France.

"There is no-one I have spoken to who I respect - ex-players, coaches - who thinks he's ready," said Carling, who won 72 caps for England and led them to the 1991 World Cup final.

"I don't understand what the rush is and it's unfair on him. I feel sorry for him. If he wants to make it in union, there's plenty of time.

"He's been playing union for 10 months and half of that was in a different position to what England are playing him in.

"I don't believe he's one of the four best centres in England."

'Everyone had an opportunity'

When asked about the omission of Cipriani, who has been capped 14 times for England since making his debut in 2008, Lancaster explained he was edged out by specialist performers at both fly-half and full-back and rejected suggestions he had not had a chance to stake a claim.

"I can reassure everyone that during training everyone has had plenty of opportunities to put their talent forward. They've all had fantastic opportunities," he said.

"It's tough on Danny, he's a good player. We think he's improved but he's just lost out."

BBC Radio 5 live rugby reporter Chris Jones

"Burgess's inclusion was always expected given the investment the England management has put in him since his switch from rugby league, but it is still a highly controversial call.

"Despite all his obvious credentials, Burgess is still raw as a union player, let alone a centre - with only 70 minutes of international experience under his belt - while the jettisoned Luther Burrell has been a regular presence over the past few seasons.

"Henry Slade's selection provides a creative alternative to Burgess and Brad Barritt, with the England coaches stressing this week the need for balance across the squad.

"In the forwards, Alex Corbisiero and Dave Attwood are both high-profile omissions, while Nick Easter is also unlucky to miss out given his experience, character and versatility."

England 2015 Rugby World Cup squad

Hookers: Jamie George (Saracens), Rob Webber (Bath), Tom Youngs (Leicester).

Props: Kieran Brookes (Northampton), Dan Cole (Leicester), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath).

Second rows: George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Geoff Parling (Exeter).

Back rows: James Haskell (Wasps), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton).

Scrum-halves: Danny Care (Harlequins), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester).

Fly-halves: Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath).

Centres: Brad Barritt (Saracens), Sam Burgess (Bath), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter).

Back three: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Anthony Watson (Bath).