THREE Plymouth Albion players have been named in the England Counties squad for their match against a Scotland Club XV at Moseley next Friday.
Albion player-coach Kieran Hallett, who has previously earned representative honours for Ireland Under-21s and the Championship Select XV, is joined in the squad by forward Nile Dacres and prop Dan Pullinger.
All three are listed as Devon players, although the trio have yet to pull on the green and white shirt of the county at senior level. Hallett is also eligible to play county rugby for Cornwall.
No Cornwall players were named in the England Counties squad for next week’s match. Last year, Matt Shepherd, Tom Cowan-Dickie and Christian Judge were among the Cornwall players to earn honours for the representative side.
Former Albion hooker Ted Stagg, who now plays for Cadly, is named in the party to play the Scotland Club XV.
England are hoping to make up for a surprise 57-27 defeat to their Scottish rivals last season.
“Last year we had a pretty new squad and Scotland played very well but we’re confident in our players and I expect there to be a big response,” said England team manager Long.
“We have a mix of debutants and experienced players and as a team a lot of responsibility is on those guys who have pulled on the white shirt before to instil the right culture.”
England Counties squad to face Scotland
Andrew Brown Coventry/Notts, Lincs & Derby
Trevor Davison Blaydon/Durham
Daniel Pullinger Plymouth/Devon
James Litchfield Coventry/Warwickshire
Matthew Miles Old Albanians/Hertfordshire
Ted Stagg Caldy/Cheshire
Nile Dacres Plymouth/Devon
George Oram Birmingham Moseley/Kent
Keith Laughlin Blaydon/Northumberland
Harry Bate Old Albanians/Hertfordshire
Jack Preece Birmingham Moseley/Gloucestershire
Chris Brightwell Birmingham Moseley/North Midlands
Tom Baldwin Blackheath/Kent
Peter White Coventry/East Midlands
David Brazier Birmingham Moseley/North Midlands
Joe Tarrant Ampthill/Eastern Counties
Kieran Hallett Plymouth/Devon
Steven Leonard Hartpury/Gloucestershire
Markus Burcham Blackheath/Kent
Leo Fielding Blackheath/Gloucestershire
Sam Baker Ampthill/East Midlands
James Stokes Coventry/Eastern Counties
Mike Wilcox Hartpury/Gloucestershire