ENGLAND full-back Mike Brown believes Worcester Warriors’ Chris Pennell has every chance of featuring for the Red Rose during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The duo will both be in contention for a full-back spot in Stuart Lancaster’s side along with Saracens star Alex Goode.

Lancaster is set to name his 45-man England training squad for the World Cup today (Wednesday).

While Goode and Brown have been battling it out in the Premiership this season, Pennell has been strutting his stuff one division below in the Championship.

The Warrior has helped his side to second in the table and will now be looking for a return to the Premiership with a play-off victory over Bristol – the first clash is tonight at Ashton Gate (7.45pm).

Even without a return to the top flight, Brown thinks Pennell hasn’t done any harm to his international chances by choosing to stay with the Warriors.

“I don’t think staying at Worcester has hampered Chris at all to be honest because he is a great player,” said Brown, speaking as Land Rover unveiled an official Rugby World Cup mascot as part of Land Rover’s ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign that aims to put grassroots rugby on the global stage.

“He’s around the set-up and is a couple of steps away from starting so there is no doubt that he is in contention.

“I have not had much chance to watch the championship this year but I am sure he is playing extremely well.

“He is a great player off the field as well and I know him quite well as we are friends and I really enjoy his company.

“I think him staying at Worcester is a testament to the type of guy that he is because you don’t get many one-club men these days.

“He is a top-class pro and I think it will be great if he makes it back to the Premiership next year.”

England will begin their World Cup preparations on June 22 at Pennyhill Park, before travelling to Denver, Colorado for a training camp on July 11 and 12.

They play two warm-up Tests against France in August, with the 31-man RWC squad announced on August 31 before a final warm-up Test against Ireland on September 5.

Despite a disappointing campaign as Harlequins missed out on a semi-final spot, Brown believes his side will come back stronger next term but is first concentrating on fulfilling a childhood dream at the World Cup – something he knows Pennell can help out with.

“I think we are in great shape for the tournament and our objective is simple, we want to win the World Cup,” said Brown. “It doesn’t get any better than that and winning the World Cup on home soil would be an absolute dream come true.”

Land Rover is recruiting all 96 Rugby World Cup 2015 official mascots as part of ‘We Deal In Real’, Land Rover’s Rugby World Cup 2015 sponsorship campaign which will champion the people that are the heart and soul of the game by putting grassroots clubs on the global stage. www.landrover.co.uk/mascots @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal