Warriors duo Jack Singleton and Nick Schonert have been named in Eddie Jones’ England squad to face the Barbarians in the Quilter Cup at Twickenham Stadium this Sunday (kick-off 3pm, live on Sky Sports Action).
Tighthead prop Schonert is named on the bench and could make his first appearance wearing the Red Rose, while Singleton starts at hooker for his first England appearance since last May’s clash with the Barbarians.
Singleton went on tour with England last summer to Argentina but is yet to get his first cap.
The 23-year-old has had a busy season in the Blue and Gold, having played the most minutes of any hooker in the Premiership, thrown 225 lineouts and made 218 tackles with a 94 per cent success rate.
Schonert was monumental at the scrum for Warriors throughout 2017/18 after being called up to an England Training Camp last summer and this time he is handed a chance to represent Jones’ side on the big stage after moving over from South Africa in 2014.
George Ford (Leicester Tigers) and Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) will co-captain the England side again, having done so for last year’s fixture against the Barbarians and Samoa this season.
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) makes a return in an England shirt for the uncapped match, following a knee injury he picked up against Italy in this season’s NatWest 6 Nations.
Mike Brown (Harlequins) will play on the left wing, with Elliot Daly (Wasps) wearing the number 15 jersey.
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), who made his England debut in Argentina last June, will partner uncapped Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby) in the midfield.
Robshaw will play in the back row alongside Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) – who became the youngest player to start an international for England in 90 years against Argentina last year- and the former England Under 20 captain Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby).
Dan Robson (Wasps) and Danny Cipriani (Wasps) are named on the bench for the first time under Jones.
Jones said: “This is a good young squad and their work ethic has been outstanding over the last two weeks. Their application to learn has been very good but they are very young at Test rugby level so this week’s match against the Barbarians is a fantastic opportunity for them to step up.
“It is a great opportunity for them to show they deserve to wear the English rose, to show they can be in contention for the World Cup and a great opportunity for them to put us on the front foot ahead of the South Africa tour.
“You never know what to expect from the Barbarians team. We know they will be well coached by Pat Lam, we know they have got good individual players and some outstanding individual players, so we need to be up for the unexpected.”
England side to play Barbarians
15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 18 caps)
14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
13 Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
12 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
11 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 69 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 74 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 56 caps)
2 Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors, uncapped)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 10 caps)
4 Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
5 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 52 caps)
6 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 64 caps)
7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
8 Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Finishers
16 George McGuigan (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
18 Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors, uncapped)
19 Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks,uncapped)
20 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
21 Dan Robson (Wasps, uncapped)
22 Danny Cipriani (Wasps, 14 caps)
23 Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)