GUISELEY'S Scott Freer has been named in the England squad of 22 for their opening game of the season at Gloucester tomorrow, Friday.

He has previously represented England at U-18 and U-19 levels.

The Leeds Carnegie prop forward, a former pupil at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley, and a former Moortown club player, is now looking forward to the contest with Wales.

This is the first of a full Six Nations programme and part of the build-up to the IRB Junior World Championships in June.

Fifteen of the players took part in the Under-19 World Championships last season, where the England side was led by London Wasps No8 Hugo Ellis.

Also included is Northampton Saints hooker Joe Gray and there are six other new faces in the three-quarter line in Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs, centres Luke Eves (Bristol Rugby) and Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), and outside backs Dan Norton (Gloucester Rugby), Seb Stegmann (Harlequins) and Greig Tonks (Leicester Tigers).

The side is coached by former England and Lions lock Nigel Redman and ex-England fly-half Mark Mapletoft, two of the RFU's National Academy coaches.

"As a group they've put in a lot of effort so far this season and we're pleased with the upbeat and enthusiastic attitude they have," said Redman.

"They've been an exciting bunch to work with. A real positive for us is that a lot of these young players have been playing regularly in Premiership sides, in the A League and for National League clubs which has helped them make excellent progress."

England's build-up included a training camp in Portugal last month and they continued their work at the University of Bath last week before reducing the squad from 32.

England's other U-20 fixtures see them playing Italy in Genoa on February 9; France in Grenoble on February 22; Scotland in Falkirk on March 7; and Ireland in Gloucester on March 14, the latter game to be televised live on Sky Sports atb7.35pm.

In the IRB World Championships in Wales England take on Fiji in Newport on June 6; Canada in Newport on June 10; and Australia in Newport on June 14.

The semi-finals will be on June 1 and the finals on June 21.