Three of Northampton Saints' Senior Academy have been named in the England Under-20 match-day squad for tomorrow evening's Six Nations match against France Under-21 at Franklin's Gardens. Phil Hoy starts in the second row with Charlie Beech and Danny Pointon both on the bench.
England's front and back rows are re-jigged with Tom Mercey, a late withdrawal through illness against the Irish, resuming in place of Northampton Saints' Charlie Beech - Dan Cole moves to loose-head - and a whole new unit in blind-side Matt Cox (Worcester Warriors), Saracens open-side Andy Saull and London Wasps No 8 Hugo Ellis.
There are also changes on the bench where Luke Cozens - currently in the country's top 10 points scorers with 214 for Cleve and more than 50 for Bath A and Development XV - gets his first taste of England representative rugby and Northampton Saints' own Danny Pointon wins a place.
England will be facing Under-21 opposition as France, like Italy, have not yet followed the Home Nations in moving to an Under-20s age group.
Coach Nigel Redman said: "Tomorrow will be a physical challenge because the French are older but also a tactical one because their rugby brains are older and that is going to be a test, particularly for some of our younger players. I am hoping for more tempo - which what we worked on ahead of the Irish game and didn't get it - and being more unpredictable in the way we attack."
Around 5,000 tickets have already been sold for this match and they are still available from the Saints' ticket office, priced £12 seating, £10 standing, £6 juniors and £30 family (2 adults, 2 children). Telephone 01604 581000.
ENGLAND UNDER-20s
15 David Doherty (London Wasps)
14 Ollie Dodge (Leicester Tigers)
13 Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps)
12 Adam Powell (Saracens)
11 Selorm Kuadey (Sale Sharks)
10 Seb Jewell (NEC Harlequins)
9 Danny Care (capt, NEC Harlequins)
1 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
2 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
3 Tom Mercey (Saracens)
4 Dave Attwood (Bristol Rugby)
5 Phil Hoy (Northampton Saints)
6 Matt Cox (Worcester Warriors)
7 Andy Saull (Saracens)
8 Hugo Ellis (London Wasps)
Replacements
16 Ross McMillan (Gloucester Rugby)
17 Charlie Beech (Northampton Saints)
18 Alex Shaw (Leicester Tigers)
19 Chevvy Pennycook (Bristol Rugby)
20 Danny Pointon (Northampton Saints)
21 Luke Cozens (Bath Rugby)
22 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
There was further good news for the Saints Academy with the call-up of Matthew O'Regan to the Ireland Under-19 training squad that will be meeting this weekend.
