England call-up for Luxford

It’s been a meteoric rise for the 19-year-old OEs scrum-half - a product of the club’s successful Academy last season - who only broke into the first team squad towards the end of the current campaign.

The England squad was chosen following the conclusion of the Jason Leonard U20 County Championship as well as a divisional weekend of fixtures held at Chetwyn Barracks in Nottingham.

Luxford, a former pupil at Chislehurst & Sidcup, played in every match of the county campaign, helping Kent U20s to the semi-finals and also impressed for London and SE division in an emphatic victory over the Midlands.

The 23-man England Counties squad will play their first match on Wednesday, 7 June followed by a second test of Saturday, 10 June against a representative Holland side.

"The standard was incredibly high this year which made selection very difficult," said team manager Chris Brookes.

"We're very happy with the players we have and can't wait to start what will be a brilliant tour. To pull on an England shirt and represent your country is a huge honour for these players."

In preparation for the tour the side played a trial match against Nottingham Academy, which England won 26-19.

Updated 19:00 - 2 Sep 2019 by Jon Edwards