Tony Clubb has been handed a shock call-up to England’s rugby league pre-World Cup training squad.

England coach Tony Smith has included the Gravesend-born centre, who currently plays for Harlequins, in an initial 13-man squad.

The squad will be boosted when the six big teams exit the Super League play-offs as Smith prepares England’s elite for the forthcoming tournament in Australia.

Smith names his final 24-man squad on October 7.

England play a warm-up game against Wales in Doncaster three days later and begin their World Cup tournament against Papua New Guinea on October 25.

Clubb, 21, was introduced to rugby at Blackheath RFC before making the transition to rugby league with Greenwich Admirals.