DURSLEY youth product Charlie Sharples has been named in the England Saxons squad for the first time ahead of the Churchill Cup.
The 22-year-old winger has enjoyed a stunning season for Gloucester, scoring 18 tries from 25 starts, including four in the LV=Cup semi-final win over Newport Gwent Dragons and a hat-trick in the Aviva Premiership win over Sale.
Sharples, who played for England at under-20 level, now has a chance to impress England manager Martin Johnson further before he names his preliminary World Cup squad on June 20.
Former Winterbourne International Academy pupil Dave Attwood, 24, is also included in the 24-man Saxons squad as he looks to get back in favour.
He toured with the England squad to Australia and New Zealand last year before being handed his international debut against the All Blacks at Twickenham in November, but missed the 2011 Six Nations after receiving a nine-week ban for stamping in Gloucester’s European Challenge Cup game against La Rochelle in December.
The Bath-bound second row played the full 80 minutes as England lost 38-32 in the non-cap international against the Barbarians on Saturday.
England Saxons begin their Churchill Cup campaign this Saturday when they face the USA at Northampton (5pm).
They will then take on Tonga at Gloucester on Sunday, June 12 (2.30pm) and the finals day at Worcester on Saturday, June 18 will pit the Saxons against Canada, Italy A or Russia.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “It’s a great opportunity for so many young players to test themselves against international sides like the USA and Tonga who are preparing for the World Cup.
“The players involved against the Barbarians will have taken a lot out of a match against some really experienced internationals and now the challenge is to bind them together with players coming in from the two Aviva Premiership finalists to produce an effective performance against the USA on Saturday.”
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