Paul has excelled for England in the shorter game

Tait and Paul are included in a 15-man group, which will be trimmed to 12, for the event from 18-20 March.

Newcastle teeenager Tait made his full debut against Wales in England's opening Six Nations match before being dropped for the following France game.

Paul was on the bench against France but was not in the 22 against Ireland.

The squad is captained by Gloucester's Simon Amor, the World Sevens Player of the Year, and includes the prolific Ben Gollings, who is the world points record holder.

"I am delighted Henry Paul and Mathew Tait are part of the squad and am looking forward to watching them train with the regular sevens players," said England coach Mike Friday.

"Henry is an awesome sevens player who possesses great agility and speed, whilst Mathew is an exciting and talented youngster who impressed with us in Dubai and George."

England are second seeds for the tournament behind 2001 World Cup winners New Zealand.

England given tough draw

They have been drawn in the same pool as Samoa, France, Italy, Georgia and Chinese Taipei.

Their record in Hong Kong - they have won the Sevens title there three years in a row - makes them one of the favourites.

But Friday said: "We are taking nothing for granted and must play consistently to the best of our ability if we are to have a real chance of success."

England won the first Rugby World Cup sevens at Murrayfield in 1993 with a side featuring Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson and Tim Rodber.

In 1997, a side featuring Neil Back and Austin Healey were beaten 21-5 by Samoa in the quarter-finals.

They went out at the same stage to Australia in 2001.

England squad for pre-World Cup training camp:

Simon Amor (Gloucester - capt), Geoff Appleford (London Irish), Phil Dowson (Newcastle), Ben Gollings (unattached), Richard Haughton (Saracens), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Henry Paul (Gloucester), Peter Richards (Wasps), Tony Roques (London Irish), Ben T Russell (Saracens), Pat Sanderson (Worcester), Neil Starling (Northampton), Mathew Tait (Newcastle), Rob Thirlby (Penzance & Newlyn), Andrew Vilk (Northampton).