Dubai: Henry Paul has been handed a surprise chance to relaunch his international rugby career after being named in England's squad for next week's Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens.
The former rugby league star has endured a forgettable period after being unceremoniously substituted midway through the first half of England's 15s international against Australia a year ago and then placed on a final warning by his club Gloucester last month for missing three days of training.
But Paul has excelled on the sevens stage in the past for England and now has the opportunity to help his adopted country retain the Emirates International Trophy.
Coach Mike Friday has also called up Leicester's Tom Varndell, who has been named on the bench for England's 15s international later today against Samoa at Twickenham.
The leading try scorer in this season's Premiership could make history as the first man to make two England debuts in a week if he takes to the field against the South Sea islanders and comes through unscathed to play in the opening leg of the IRB World Sevens Series.
Another man who will have plenty to prove in Dubai is Mathew Tait.
The young centre was catapulted into last season's Six Nations Championship on the back of promising displays for the England sevens team and club side Newcastle, only to be dropped after a difficult debut against Wales.
IRB Sevens Player of the Year Simon Amor will captain England for a fourth successive campaign while Ben Gollings has also been selected despite the fact that he now lives in Australia.
Friday said: "It was a tough selection process as we have a number of exciting and talented youngsters who could have stepped up to the plate and made the final squad."
