England coach Steve McNamara today named a 32-man Elite Training squad and a 24-man England Knights squad that will form the nucleus of the national team between now and the Rugby League World Cup in 2013.

The ETS squad includes 19 players who were involved in the 2011 Gillette Four Nations and eight players who are uncapped by England, including Catalan Dragons’ Torquay-born hooker Ian Henderson who has been in outstanding form this season in the Stobart Super League.

There is also a return to the England squad for Wigan Warriors forward Gareth Hock, who last played on the international stage in June 2009 when England defeated France 66-12 in Paris.

The ETS players will meet up at their Loughborough base next week alongside the England Knights squad and there will be a further four camps throughout this year including a 10-day high altitude camp in the autumn.

“Over the past 12 months we have made excellent progress throughout our international programme,” said McNamara.

“We now have a long term plan with our programme of activity in place for the next two years. This approach, as we continue to build up to the Rugby League World Cup, gives me and the players’ clarity and a clear structure.

“We have two very exciting squads that can build on last year’s efforts on reaching the Gillette Four Nations final. In addition I am monitoring on a weekly basis our eight Australian based players, who will play a pivotal role in our plans.  Our aim now is to retain the current crop of players and realise our ambition of winning the Rugby League World Cup in 2013.”

The average age of the ETS is just 26.8 while the average of the Knights is 22.6.

Super League reigning champions Leeds Rhinos have the most players in both squads with 12 representatives and there are a further 10 clubs represented from the Stobart Super League across both squads.

Joining Henderson and Hock in the ETS are Leeds Rhinos exciting centre pairing Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker and Wigan duo Josh Charnley and Lee Mossop. All four have been promoted into the elite squad after being involved with the Knights in 2011.

England will start their 2012 campaign with two matches against the Exiles in the summer:

England v Exiles, International Origin Game One - Saturday June 16, Venue and KO - TBC

England v Exiles, International Origin Game Two - Wednesday July 4, Venue and KO - TBC

England will also play in an international triangular series in the autumn against European counterparts France and Wales:

Wales v England, International Triangular Series, Weekend of October 27-28, Venue and KO - TBC

England v France, International Triangular Series, Weekend of November 3-4, Venue and KO - TBC

International Triangular Series Final, Weekend of November 10-11, Venue and KO - TBC

England Knights will play Ireland in June and will join Ireland, Italy and Scotland in the Alitalia Cup in the autumn.

Full details of the England ETS and England Knights squads are below:

2012 England Elite Training Squad

Carl Ablett: Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Parkside
Ryan Bailey: Leeds Rhinos, Milford
Chris Bridge: Warrington Wolves, Waterhead
Tom Briscoe: Hull FC, Featherstone Lions
Danny Brough: Huddersfield Giants, Eastmoor Dragons
Rob Burrow :Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions
Garreth Carvell: Warrington Wolves, Stanningley
Josh Charnley: Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks
Rangi Chase: Castleford Tigers, Dannevirke Tigers
Eorl Crabtree: Huddersfield Giants, Huddersfield YMCA
Leroy Cudjoe: Huddersfield Giants, Newsome Panthers
Ryan Hall: Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders
Zak Hardaker: Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions
Ian Henderson: Catalan Dragons, Terrigal
Gareth Hock: Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Judes
Ben Jones-Bishop: Leeds Rhinos, Queens
Jamie Jones-Buchanan: Leeds Rhinos, Stanningley
Jonny Lomax: St Helens, Orrell St James
Danny McGuire: Leeds Rhinos, East Leeds
Michael McIlorum: Wigan Warriors, Queens
Adrian Morley: Warrington Wolves, Eccles
Lee Mossop: Wigan Warriors, Hensingham
Sean O’Loughlin: Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks
Jamie Peacock: (captain) Leeds Rhinos, Stanningley
James Roby: St Helens, Blackbrook
Kevin Sinfield: Leeds Rhinos, Waterhead
Sam Tomkins: Wigan Warriors. Wigan St Patricks
Kallum Watkins: Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion
Kris Welham: Hull KR, Myton Warriors
Ben Westwood: Warrington Wolves, Normanton
Jon Wilkin: St Helens, East Hull
Kirk Yeaman: Hull FC, Myton Warriors

2012 England Knights Squad

Joe Arundel: Castleford Tigers, Castleford Panthers
Jodie Broughton: Salford City Reds, Queens
Chris Clarkson: Leeds Rhinos, East Leeds
Paul Clough: St Helens, Blackbrook
Mike Cooper: Warrington Wolves, Latchford Albion
Rhys Evans: Warrington Wolves, Burtonwood Bulldogs
Liam Farrell: Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Pats
Dale Ferguson: Huddersfield Giants, Featherstone Lions
Mark Flanagan: St Helens, Saddleworth Rangers
Lee Gaskell: St Helens, Blackbrook
Josh Hodgson: Hull KR, Hull Dockers
Danny Houghton: Hull FC, East Hull
Shaun Lunt: Huddersfield Giants, Ellenborough Rangers
Jermaine McGillvary: Huddersfield Giants, Deighton Juniors
Richie Myler: Warrington Wolves, Halton West Bank
Larne Patrick: Huddersfield Giants, Townville Tigers
Stefan Ratchford: Warrington Wolves, Wigan St Patricks
Chris Riley: Warrington Wolves, Woolston Rovers
Matty Smith: Salford City Reds, Blackbrook
Scott Taylor: Hull KR, Skirlaugh
Liam Watts: Hull KR, Featherstone Lions
Joe Wardle: Huddersfield Giants, Ovenden
Gary Wheeler: St Helens, Blackbrook Royals
Elliot Whitehead: Bradford Bulls, West Bowling