England bring in Varndell to strong 12-member squad

London: England have underlined their determination to win next month's Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai by naming speedster Tom Varndell in a powerful 12-man squad.

The 23-year-old Leicester winger was named player of the tournament at the 2005 Dubai Sevens where his extraordinary pace and finishing prowess produced 10 priceless tries.

Varndell's career has stalled in recent months but he now has a gilt-edged chance to put himself back in the spotlight as England bid to win the Melrose Cup for the first time since 1993.

Ben Ryan's squad have been doing pretty well this season without the player New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens labelled "the fastest man I've ever seen on a rugby pitch." They are the current joint leaders of the World Sevens Series with South Africa having won one of the four tournaments to date and reached the final in two others, but Varndell's call-up could well prove to be England's trump card.

Selection consistency has been an important factor in their success in recent months, and Ryan has retained ten members of the squad that secured a first-ever triumph in Wellington earlier this month.

A man key to England's hopes, and their only survivor from the last World Cup in Hong Kong in 2005, is Ben Gollings, the leading points scorer in World Sevens Series history by some distance.

With the inspirational Ollie Phillips (Newcastle) leading from the front and speedsters such as Isoa Damudamu (British Army/London Wasps), Josh Drauniniu (Royal Navy/Exeter Chiefs) and Tom Biggs (Leeds Carnegie) also in form, England have the look of a team that means business.

Ryan said: "I am immensely proud of the squad's successes so far this season. This is one of England Sevens' most successful periods, reaching four of the last five finals going into a World Cup is unbelievably exciting.