Gollings to lead England

Gollings, 30, played in the 2002 Games in Manchester and helped England to a silver medal in Melbourne four years ago when New Zealand won their third successive gold.

His tally of 2,374 points in the International Rugby Board's sevens world series is more than a thousand ahead of his nearest rival, Waisale Serevi of Fiji.

England face a stiff task in India after a change in IRB regulations freed clubs from the obligation to release players for sevens competitions, a development that has hit the game much harder in Europe than in the southern hemisphere.

"New Zealand and Samoa, who have test players all over their squads, will be the favourites but we are going there aiming to win every game we play," coach Ben Ryan told Reuters after announcing the squad at Twickenham.

"Ours is a new squad and it isn't full of superstars but I think it will be stronger for that."

Squad: Greg Barden (Royal Navy), Kevin Barrett (Saracens), John Brake (England Sevens), Dan Caprice (England Sevens), Chris Cracknell (England Sevens), Isoa Damudamu (British Army), Ben Gollings (England Sevens, captain), Simon Hunt (Birmingham & Solihull), Dan Norton (Bristol), Tom Powell (England Sevens), James Rodwell (England Sevens), Mathew Turner (England Sevens).