WORCESTER trio Will Bow-ley, Marcel Garvey and Simon Whatling have been named in this season's wider England Sevens squad.

Sevens coach Mike Friday has named a party of 33. The players will train with the 11 core squad players but whereas those players are available for selection for all eight IRB Sevens tournaments, wider squad players are only available for selection in up to four tournaments.

Garvey, the 23-year-old win-ger, has represented England at Under 21 and 'A' level and Friday thinks he can make a name for himself in this form of the game.

He said: "Marcel is a talented young player but one who is still developing. We feel that Marcel will benefit from being involved with the sevens squad and the training which focuses on core skills."

The England players will meet for three training sessions before their first tournament -- the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens in December.

Friday said: "Dubai is only a few months away and the training sessions over the coming months will be important to see how the players cope in a sevens environment.

"There are many talented players who will all be vying for selection in Dubai and South Africa. We go to Dubai as reigning champions and there will be great pressure on us to perform again this year in front of the 30,000 crowd."

Former Worcester scrum-half Chris Hallam, now with Bristol, is also included in the squad.

Meanwhile, Warriors confirmed centre Dale Rasmussen is suffering from concussion after he was stretchered off in Saturday's match with Bristol but he has not done any damage to his neck or back.

The arm injury sustained by scrum-half Nick Runciman is not thought to be serious.