“I’m obviously very pleased and I’m really looking forward to the experience of the Sevens circuit,” says Youngs. “I’ve played in a few tournaments with Tigers but I haven’t played much Sevens really. I took part in a few training camps last year but I wasn’t selected for a squad.
“There’s a lot of skill involved in Sevens and I’m hoping I can transfer some of those skills, such as passing, vision and awareness of space, back into my 15-a-side game.”
Youngs is part of a 12-man squad for the tournament, with coach Ben Ryan handing the captaincy to Andy Vik of Sale Sharks.
"This season’s squad will start as underdogs against the top four sides in the world series,” says Ryan. “New and unproven, the squad has players with immense potential to move through into the very top of the senior game. It's a hugely exciting time."
England have been drawn in the same pool as South Africa, Canada and Tunisia.
Dubai 12-man squad
Jack Adams (Gloucester Rugby)
Matthew Banahan (Bath Rugby)
John Brake (Northampton Saints)
Isoa Damudamu (Newbury Blues)
Antony Elliot (Bristol Rugby)
Ben Foden (Sale Sharks)
Liam Gibson (Plymouth Albion)*
Tom Guest (Harlequins)
Simon Hunt (Ebbw Vale)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Andy Vilk, Captain (Sale Sharks)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
