Worsley to miss out on World Cup

Joe Worsley is set to miss out on playing in his fourth Rugby World Cup after being cut from England's training squad.

The 78-cap Wasps back-row forward, who made his Test debut in the 1999 World Cup and was part of the victorious squad in 2003, is one of five players to have been released on Monday by manager Martin Johnson.

The Leicester pair of hooker George Chuter and number eight Thomas Waldrom have also been released along with Saracens wing David Strettle and the versatile Gloucester back James Simpson-Daniel.

Johnson has retained a 40-man squad to begin preparations for England's forthcoming back-to-back internationals against Wales.

The decision to cut Worsley and Waldrom, who has been struggling with a calf injury, means the Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw is still pushing for World Cup selection.

Chuter's departure leaves England with three hookers in Dylan Hartley, Steve Thompson and Lee Mears - all of whom are now likely to travel to New Zealand.

Strettle and Simpson-Daniel have been overtaken in the pecking order by Gloucester bolter Charlie Sharples and Harlequins wing Ugo Monye.

Johnson is yet to cut any of his seven props or his five second row players.