By Chris Whyatt

Strettle won his first England cap eleven weeks after playing Dubai 7s

England have a chance to gain some measure of revenge for their World Cup heartache when the sevens side takes on South Africa in Dubai later this month.

England coach Ben Ryan announced his 12-man squad on Friday for the upcoming IRB World Seven Series tournament.

"This squad has players with immense potential who can rise to the top of the senior game," Ryan told BBC Sport.

In recent years, David Strettle, James Haskell, and Tom Varndell have used Dubai as a platform to full honours.

The Dubai tournament, on 30 November - 1 December, is the first of eight in the World Sevens Series which moves on to South Africa, New Zealand, California, Hong Kong, Adelaide and London, before climaxing in Edinburgh next May.

If these young players can perform and impress they have every chance of following in their predecessors' footsteps Ben Ryan, England Sevens coach

Large crowds traditionally flock to each leg of the elite-level competition to watch fast, free-flowing attacking rugby.

Ryan, former director of rugby at Newbury, said his squad is an "exciting" combination of young talent and experience.

Sale Sharks' Andy Vilk will make his third appearance in Dubai and his first as captain. Fellow Shark Ben Foden and powerful Gloucester centre Jack Adams are also both experienced sevens players.

Young emerging talent such as Matt Banahan, Antony Elliott, Tom Youngs, Joe Simpson and Liam Gibson will be keen to show off their skills and earn their first England caps.

ENGLAND'S 12-MAN SQUAD Jack Adams (Gloucester) Matthew Banahan (Bath) * John Brake (Northampton) Isoa Damudamu (Newbury) Antony Elliot (Bristol)* Ben Foden (Sale Sharks) Liam Gibson (Plymouth Albion)* Tom Guest (Harlequins)* Simon Hunt (Ebbw Vale) Joe Simpson (London Wasps)* Andy Vilk, Captain (Sale) Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)* * uncapped

"It's an exciting squad and it's got a mix," said Ryan. "We don't get much contact time, so we haven't done a huge amount of training.

"But we'll keep things very simple and what we have got is huge amounts of power and pace.

"I think we're going to be upsetting a few teams along the way hopefully."

England have been pooled in Group D with South Africa, along with Canada and Tunisia.

South Africa, boosted by their World Cup success in the 15-a-side format, should prove a tough test having beaten eventual World Series title holders New Zealand in last year's Dubai final.

In recent years the English Rugby Football Union have successfully used the sevens circuit as a breeding ground for future England senior players.

Harlequin's Tom Guest is tipped as a future England number eight

Recent success stories include Jamie Noon, Josh Lewsey, Mathew Tait and Magnus Lund.

And players like David Strettle, James Haskell and Nick Abendanon now hold England senior honours after being noticed in last season's tournament.

Ryan insists that, although no "top" Guiness Premiership players have been named, the players he is developing in the squad have what it takes to reach the top.

He gave the example of Harlequins' Tom Guest, who is being widely tipped as a future England number eight.

"It's time now for these players who have been identified as having this [potential] to step up and turn potential into actual.

606: DEBATE Have your say on the potential of England's youthful sevens squad

"If these young players can perform and impress they have every chance of following in their predecessors' footsteps," he said.

"You can make a name for yourself very quickly on the World Sevens circuit."

Home nations Wales and Scotland will also compete at the Dubai Sevens alongside countries with rich pedigree in the sevens game such as New Zealand, Fiji, and Samoa.

Dubai will also host the 2009 World Cup Sevens.