Hipkiss, the Players' Player of the Year in 2006/07, has played for England at age-group level from U-16 up to U-21, as well as Sevens, but has now been given his first opportunity at senior level, with the World Cup just over a month away.
Tigers acting head coach Richard Cockerill said: "Dan was in consistently good form in a team that reached three finals last season. We were pleased for him when he was called into the England training squad this summer and we are all very happy that he now has an opportunity to play international rugby."
Tigers captain Martin Corry is named at blindside flanker, while club colleagues George Chuter and Lewis Moody are among the replacements.
England:
Mark Cueto; David Strettle, Dan Hipkiss, Andy Farrell, Jason Robinson; Jonny Wilkinson, Shaun Perry; Andrew Sheridan, Mark Regan, Phil Vickery (captain), Simon Shaw, Steve Borthwick, Martin Corry, Joe Worsley, Nick Easter
Replacements: George Chuter, Matt Stevens, Lewis Moody, Lawrence Dallaglio, Peter Richards, Toby Flood, Mathew Tait
