England Player Biographies

Following are brief biographies of the England World Cup squad:

CLIVE WOODWARD (coach). Age 43. Former centre who toured twice with British Lions and won 21 caps for England in early 1980s. Appointed England's first fulltime coach in September 1997 and has 11 wins, two draws and 10 defeats. Is determined England will play expansive game in World Cup.

MATT PERRY. Fullback. Age 22. Height 1.85 metres. Weight 86 kg. Caps: 20. An attacking fullback with pace who is fearless under the high ball. Can be devastating on the burst. Kicking is not his strong point. Has played in every position in backline except scrumhalf for his club.

NICK BEAL. Fullback/winger. Age 28. 1.87 metres. 86 kg. Caps: 11. One of the squad's utility players, Beal is unlikely to make the XV unless injury strikes a winger or Perry. Excellent sevens players, Beal toured South Africa with the British Lions.

AUSTIN HEALEY. Winger/scrumhalf. Age 25. 1.77 metres. 87 kg. Caps: 20. A scrumhalf by trade, Healey is now a wing whose trademarks are his ability to wriggle out of tackles and a lightning jink. Probably the most impressive back in warm-up games this season. Won two caps with Lions.

DAVID REES. Winger. 1.75 metres. 87 kg. Caps: 11. Struggling to recover form after a groin injury ruined end of last season. Missed European summer tour of southern hemisphere and now behind Healey and Luger in wings' pecking order. Exciting runner and good tackler despite his size.

DAN LUGER. Winger. 1.85 metres. 89 kg. Caps: 10. England's find of the past year in the backs, Luger has developed into winger of class, scoring seven tries in 10 internationals. Son of Croatian father and Czech mother, his career was nearly halted by cruciate ligament injury in 1997.

MIKE CATT. Centre/flyhalf/fullback. Age 27 (28 on 17 Sept) 1.77 metres. 86 kg. Caps: 36. South African-born Catt is an all-round ball player who has never convinced fans he is the answer at flyhalf or fullback. Is often guilty of taking wrong option but is a dazzling runner on his day. Versatility means he will probably by used as replacement.

PHIL DE GLANVILLE. Centre. Age 30 (31 on Oct 1). 1.80 metres. 85 kg. Caps: 34. Former captain whose recent selection would show England intend defensive game. Often in shadow of Guscott and Will Carling, he never sealed his right to place in side, despite good all-round skills.

WILL GREENWOOD. Centre. Age 26 (27 on 20 Oct). 1.93 metres. 97 kg. Caps: 11. Out for nine months with a pelvic complaint, he was revelation in comeback in 36-11 defeat of Canada. Added variety and potency to backline with his power, ability to ride tackles and distribution. Son of former England captain.

JEREMY GUSCOTT. Centre. Age 34. 1.85 metres. 87 kg. Caps: 62. Old man of England squad and one of its few world-class players. Guscott is superb when in full flow, and a fine tackler, but he can go long spells without influencing a game. England's second-highest try scorer, he has played on three Lions' tours, sealing series victory in South Africa in 1997 with late drop goal.

PAUL GRAYSON. Flyhalf. Age 28. 1.82 metres. 79 kg. Caps: 19. A superb kicker, he scored 81 points in first five tests and seemed to be much-needed successor to Rob Andrew. But Jonny Wilkinson has taken over in recent tests and Grayson seen as defensive option in England make-up. Converted 15 of 16 tries in qualifier against Dutch, equalling England test points record.

JONNY WILKINSON. Flyhalf. Age 20. 1.77 metres. 80 kg. Caps: 10. Won first cap at 18 to become youngest England international since 1927. Played centre but, after media pressure, was moved to flyhalf in recent tour of Australia. Solid goalkicker, he is less able at kicking from the hand and his attacking skills have been dulled in warm-up games.

KYRAN BRACKEN. Scrumhalf. Age 27. 1.80 metres. 84 kg. Caps: 23. Has struggled with shoulder injury for some months and not certain he will be fit for Cup. Keen to attack around fringes of scrum, Bracken is a fine kicker but less keen to launch quick attacks by his backs. Was understudy to Dewi Morris in 1995 World Cup.

MATT DAWSON. Scrumhalf. Age 26 (27 on 31 Oct). 1.80 metres. 81 kg. Caps: 24. Has taken over from Bracken and scored seven test tries. Dawson's dummy is one of sights of English rugby. Played soccer for Chelsea boys and played three tests for Lions in South Africa.

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO. Number eight/flanker. Age 27. 1.93 metres. 98 kg. Caps: 28. Lost England captaincy over drug-taking allegations, was fined but returns for World Cup. One of pillars of England team, Dallaglio has played in all three backrow positions in tests and is all-round talent - hard in tackle, good distributor and fine runner.

MARTIN CORRY. Back row. Age 25 (26 on Oct 12). 1.95 metres. 112 kg. Caps: 8. Versatile forward who likely to be used mainly as replacement. Driving style learned under Dean Richards at Leicester. Was Dallaglio's replacement in World Cup qualifiers.

JOE WORSLEY. Back row. Age 22. 1.97 metres. Weight 97 kg. Uncapped. Surprise inclusion in place of experienced Ben Clarke, he is only uncapped player in squad. Plays alongside Dallaglio at Wasps. Competent bassoon and piano player.

RICHARD HILL. Flanker. Age 26. 1.87 metres. 99 kg. Caps: 22. Large part of England's 'little and large' flankers line-up with Back, Hill is quiet enforcer who scores fair share of tries. Won two caps for Lions and is tipped to be one of surprises of Cup with his all-round skills.

NEIL BACK. Flanker. Age 30. 1.77 metres. 93 kg. Caps: 23. Out of favour under former coach Jack Rowell because of his size, Back has become fixture under Woodward. Always close to action, Back scored four tries in qualifier against Dutch and is crowd favourite. Was banned for six months in 1996 for pushing referee in club Cup final.

TIM RODBER. Lock/Flanker. Age 30. 1.98 metres. 105 kg. Caps: 42. For much of the 1990s a fixture as flanker for England, the former soldier has switched to the second row and is likely to start as a replacement. A Lions stalwart Rodber is renowned for his tough approach. Slightly injured at present.

MARTIN JOHNSON. Lock (captain). Age 29. 1.98 metres. 114 kg. Caps: 48. Took over from Dallaglio as captain and pivotal figure in England team for his experience and ball-winning skills, particularly in line-out. Also captain of 1997 Lions tour. Can get involved in foul play.

DANNY GREWCOCK. Lock. Age 26 (27 on Nov 7). 1.98 metres. 111 kg. Caps: 12. Probable partner for Johnson in second row and fine all-round footballer. Athletic with good ball skills, he is also black belt in karate. Sent off on 1998 tour of New Zealand for stamping.

GARATH ARCHER. Lock. Age 24. 1.98 metres. 101 kg. Caps: 14. Abrasive second-rower who likely to miss out on starting place. Played for every England representative side from under-18s.

NEIL MCCARTHY. Hooker. Age 24. 1.83 metres. One of eight front rows in the squad, he captained England colts and can also play at prop.

PHIL GREENING. Hooker. Age 23 (24 on 3 Oct). 1.82 metres. 108 kgs. Caps: eight. After dazzling display of open play in warm-up test v U.S. looked to be number one. But throwing at line-out still questionable and may give way to more experienced Cockerill.

RICHARD COCKERILL. Hooker. Age 28. 1.77 metres. 108 kgs. Caps: 23. Aggressive hooker, he is never far from action and rarely silent. Took over from Greening in 1997 and has kept his place but critics say his throwing at line-outs needs improving.

PHIL VICKERY. Prop. Age 23. 1.90 metres. 126 kg. Caps: Seven. Recently recovered from long-term neck injury. Former cattle herdsman impressed against U.S. in warm-up test. Evens chance he will start opening Cup game.

VICTOR UBOGU. Prop. Age 35. 1.78 metres. 112 kg. Caps: 24. Most surprised player to get call-up after being one of seven players dropped in August. Nigerian-born, he is surprisingly quick for his size and can play both sides.

GRAHAM ROWNTREE. Prop. Age 28. 1.80 metres. 96 kg. Caps: 22. One of 10 in squad who played in 1995 World Cup. Cheerful character whose experience could see him win place at loosehead.

JASON LEONARD. Prop. Age 31. 1.77 metres. 109 kg. Caps: 72. Most experienced player in squad and world's most capped prop. Like Guscott played in 1991 Cup but is likely to remain among replacements this time.

DARREN GARFORTH. Prop. Age 33. 1.77 metres. 118 kg. Caps: 20. Late starter, Garforth sealed international spot in 1997 and was regular throughout 1999. A former scaffolder, he has a deceptive turn of pace.

Reuters contributed to this report.