Rugby Union: England retain veterans

WADE DOOLEY and Peter Winterbottom may be in the twilight of their international careers but they would still appear to have a part to play in England's short- term future.

The veteran forwards, who both gained their 50th caps in the spring as England completed a second successive Grand Slam, have been chosen in an expanded squad for a match against Leicester on 5 September, the opening day of the new season. The game is a warm-up for the internationals against Canada and South Africa this autumn.

England have also named a squad of 14 for the Selkirk Sevens on 29 August, which will give the selectors a chance to assess playing strength with next April's World Sevens at Murrayfield in mind.

ENGLAND SQUAD (v Leicester, 5 September): Backs: J Webb (Bath), I Hunter (Northampton), N Heslop (Orrell), T Underwood (Leicester), C Oti (Wasps), W Carling (Harlequins, capt), P de Glanville (Bath), J Guscott (Bath), D Hopley (Wasps), R Andrew (Toulouse), D Pears (Harlequins), S Barnes (Bath), R Hill (Bath), D Morris (Orrell). Forwards: J Probyn (Wasps), A Mullins (Harlequins), M Hynes (Orrell), J Leonard (Harlequins), V Ubogu (Bath), B Moore (Harlequins), J Olver (Northampton), M Bayfield (Northampton), W Dooley (Preston Grasshoppers), N Redman (Bath), T Rodber (Northampton), S Ojomoh (Bath), B Clarke (Bath), D Ryan (Wasps), *D Richards (Leicester), P Winterbottom (Harlequins), *N Back (Leicester). * will play for Leicester

ENGLAND SQUAD (for Selkirk Sevens, 29 August): Backs: W Carling (Harlequins, capt), P de Glanville (Bath), J Guscott (Bath), A Harriman (Harlequins), D Hopley (Wasps), I Hunter (Northampton), D Morris (Orrell), D Pears (Harlequins), D Scully (Wakefield), T Underwood (Leicester). Forwards: J Cassell (Saracens), B Clarke (Bath), C Sheasby (Harlequins), P Winterbottom (Harlequins).