Veteran international Adrian Morley was left out of Steve McNamara’s England squad announced on Thursday for the forthcoming fixture with the Exiles.

England are playing two matches against the Exiles, a team made up of leading overseas players from the Super League, in a bid to boost their international competitiveness after falling behind Australia and New Zealand, rugby league’s two powerhouse nations.

Wigan’s Gareth Hock was named in an England squad for the first time since his drugs ban, and Huddersfield’s former Scotland international Danny Brough was selected as well.

However, the absence of 50-cap non-selection Warrington forward Morley was the biggest talking point.

Morley has been an England regular under McNamara but has only just returned from a neck injury and has yet to confirm if he intends playing on to the next World Cup in 2013.

McNamara though was happy with the composition of his squad.

“It is a pleasing situation to be in,” he said. “We have competition for places right across the team and every player knows they have to perform week in, week out if they are going to be part of the England programme.”

The first match against the Exiles is at St Helens’ Langtree Park on June 16 and the second at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium on July 4.

England:

Carl Ablett (Leeds), Ryan Atkins (Warrington), Tom Briscoe (Hull), Danny Brough (Huddersfield), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Josh Charnley (Wigan), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Gareth Hock (Wigan), Jamie Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), Lee Mossop (Wigan), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan), Jamie Peacock (Leeds, capt), James Roby (St Helens), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Danny Tickle (Hull), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Jon Wilkin (St Helens)