ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster is adamant rugby league convert Sam Burgess has been included in his 31-man World Cup squad on merit.

The 26-year-old completes a remarkable rise since moving from South Sydney Rabbitohs to Bath last October by being included in Lancaster's squad for the tournament which opens on September 18 when England play Fiji at Twickenham.

"He's picked on merit from what we've seen in the camp," Lancaster said.

"Obviously he's come in, learnt the game at Bath. He's played a lot of time at 12, sometimes at six, but a lot of time certainly standing in the centres.

"He's earned the right. I wouldn't describe it as a gamble. I understand the size of this decision, but I understand the size of every decision when you're in a World Cup year. Every one is a big one."

Northampton's Luther Burrell was the centre to miss out as Henry Slade of Exeter was included alongside Burgess.

Lancaster dismissed suggestions of a final trial on Wednesday, when the players faced their opposite numbers, with Burgess lining up between Owen Farrell and Slade, against Danny Cipriani, Brad Barritt and Burrell.

Sale fly-half Cipriani was another to miss out as Ben Morgan was named as one of England's number eights, ahead of Nick Easter.

Burgess and Slade have impressed during the course of England's summer-long camp, including in their debuts against France earlier this month.

Lancaster said: "They've absolutely trained the house down, impressed everyone, not just us (the coaching staff), but the players themselves and come into that France game and made two debuts that I've not seen before."

England squad for the 2015 World Cup

Props: K Brookes (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), J Marler (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), D Wilson (Bath).

Hookers: J George (Saracens), R Webber (Bath), T Youngs (Leicester).

Second rows: G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), G Parling (Exeter).

Back rows: J Haskell (Wasps), B Morgan (Gloucester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens), T Wood (Northampton).

Scrum halves: D Care (Harlequins), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Fly halves: O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath).

Centres: B Barritt (Saracens), S Burgess (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), H Slade (Exeter).

Back three: M Brown (Harlequins), A Goode (Saracens), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter), A Watson (Bath Rugby).