England coach Steve McNamara has announced a 24-man squad for England’s forthcoming Autumn International Series against France and Wales commencing later this month.

England take their next step towards building their RLWC2013 squad  first with a high-altitude training camp to South Africa and then the games against France and RLWC2013 co-hosts Wales.

Warrington Wolves prop Chris Hill earns his first ever call-up to the senior squad after impressing in his first full season in the Super League. He is one of 12 players named in the squad that will feature in this Saturday’s showpiece Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford including seven players from champions-elect Leeds Rhinos - Carl Ablett, Rob Burrow, Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Kevin Sinfield and Kallum Watkins - and five representatives from Warrington – Hill, Ryan Atkins, Adrian Morley, Richard Myler and Ben Westwood.

NRL-based Sam Burgess returns to the international set-up for the first time since 2010.

“One player who has impressed me throughout the Super League season is Warrington’s Chris Hill and deserves his call-up to the senior squad,” said McNamara. “I want to see how he, along with the other young players, adapts to the rigors of international competition. It will be great for their development to be training and playing alongside the likes of Sam Burgess and Kevin Sinfield.”

Melbourne Storm half-back Gareth Widdop, who played a pivotal role in his club’s Grand Final victory over Graham’s Bulldogs last Sunday, and Brisbane Broncos centre Jack Reed both miss out with shoulder injuries and will undergo surgery in the close season.

Other notable absentees include Huddersfield Giants prop Eorl Crabtree (shoulder), St Helens forward Jon Wilkin (shoulder and elbow) and Hull FC’s Danny Tickle (bicep). Stelens dynamic hooker James Roby is rested alongside Leeds half-back Danny McGuire.

“This year’s international programme, including our camp to South Africa, is all about fine tuning our preparations ahead of the Rugby League World Cup in just over a year’s time,” added McNamara.

“The Autumn Internationals will be a tough test against two nations (France and Wales) who are making good progress. Like us, they will use this tournament as preparation ahead of the World Cup. We want to make sure we play to our very best and win well.”

The 2012 Autumn International Series tournament schedule in full is as follows:

Saturday October 20 – France v Wales (Stade-Félix-Bollaert, Lens, 3.00pm)

Saturday October 27 – Wales v England (Glyndwr University Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, 2.30pm)

Saturday November 3 – England v France (MS3 Craven Park, Hull, 2.30pm)

Sunday November 11 – Final (Salford City Stadium, 5.00pm).

Tickets for the 2012 Autumn International Series matches cost just £12 (adults) and £6 concessions) and are available to purchase from the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 8561113 or by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk

The England squad for the 2012 Autumn International Series

(Professional club and community club shown):

Player/Club/Community Club

Carl Ablett

Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Parkside

Ryan Atkins

Warrington Wolves, Stanningley

Tom Briscoe

Hull FC, Featherstone Lions

Sam Burgess

South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dews bury Moor

Rob Burrow

Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions

Josh Charnley

Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks

Rangi Chase

Castleford Tigers, Dannevirke Tigers

Leroy Cudjoe

Huddersfield Giants, Newsome Panthers

Gareth Ellis

Hull FC, Castleford Lock Lane

James Graham

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Blackbrook

Ryan Hall

Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders

Zak Hardaker

Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions

Chris Hill

Warrington Wolves, New Springs Lions

Gareth Hock

Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Judes

Jamie Jones-Buchanan

Leeds Rhinos, Stanningley

Michael McIlorum

Wigan Warriors, Queens

Adrian Morley

Warrington Wolves, Eccles

Lee Mossop

Wigan Warriors, Hensingham

Richard Myler

Warrington Wolves, Halton West Bank

Sean O’Loughlin

Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks

Kevin Sinfield

Leeds Rhinos, Waterhead

Sam Tomkins

Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks

Kallum Watkins

Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion

Ben Westwood

Warrington Wolves, Normanton