Calderwood's dynamite displays earn Cup reward

Two Wigan rejects will spearhead England's World Cup campaign, but there is no place for their team-mate, Stuart Fielden. The England coach, Tony Smith, yesterday named both Mark Calderwood and Mickey Higham in his 24-man squad for the tournament – a tribute to their form since the club told them they were not wanted for next season.

Calderwood has since signed for Hull, while Higham will be with Warrington next year, but both have earned unexpected international call-ups on the strength of their performances on the way out. "Wigan have lost two internationals, but it's never a dull day there," said Higham, who is one of the two hookers in the party, along with St Helens' James Roby.

Calderwood was equally unwanted at the JJB, but won his place back for the play-offs and turned in a formidable display of try-saving tackling as Wigan lost at Leeds 10 days ago. "I'd like to think my form in the play-offs had been pretty good, but that game probably helped my chances," he said.

The selection of Calderwood, who was originally in the Scotland squad by virtue of a grandmother, means the omission of Peter Fox.

Smith described it as a very hard decision to leave out the Hull KR man, but it is perhaps less contentious than the exclusion of Fielden, who has been off the Test scene since an unhappy Tri-Nations series in Australia two years ago, but has shown signs of his old intensity in the second half of this season. "He can be proud of getting himself back to the ranks and he just missed out on this squad," Smith said.

The underlying reason for his omission is that Smith is going to Australia with just four props, saying that he will be relying on speed. One of his back-rowers will move forward if necessary, although he has Garreth Carvell on stand-by if a replacement is needed.

The balance of the squad means that Bradford's Jamie Langley is taken as an extra back-rower.

Ireland, who also named their squad yesterday, acquired some extra quality when Australia failed to name the Melbourne prop, Brett White. The New South Wales front-rower had promised to play for the Irish as his second choice. Australia also left out Michael Robertson, the winger who scored three tries in Manly's NRL Grand Final victory over Melbourne on Sunday, leaving him free to play for Scotland, who name their squad today.

Willie Talau, who will play for Samoa in the tournament, has joined Salford on a two-year deal.

Australia-bound: England squad

FULL-BACKS: Wellens (St Helens), Smith (Leeds).

WINGS: Gardner (St Helens), Calderwood (Wigan).

CENTRES: Gleeson (Warrington), Senior (Leeds), Sykes (Bradford).

HALF-BACKS: Pryce (St Helens), Burrow (Leeds).

PROPS: Peacock (Leeds, capt), Morley (Warrington), Graham (St Helens), Fa'asavalu (St Helens), Fielden (Wigan)

HOOKERS: Roby (St Helens), Higham (Wigan).

SECOND ROW: Ellis (Leeds), Hock (Wigan), Wilkin (St Helens), James-Buchanan (Leeds), Westwood (Warrington).

LOOSE FORWARDS: Sinfield (Leeds), Purdham (Harlequins), Langley (Bradford).

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