ANDREW HIGGINS believes the signing of rugby league star Chev Walker is a real boost for Bath and England.

Walker will team up with Higgins and his new Bath team-mates at the end of the Super League season in November on a three-year deal supported by the Rugby Football Union.

And England Saxons winger Higgins, who on Saturday lines up against Canada in the Barclays Churchill Cup in Toronto (2.45pm local, 7.45pm GMT), believes Walker’s move from Leeds Rhinos - to follow those of Jason Robinson, Henry Paul and Andy Farrell - is a good step for club and country.

“I think it’s really positive,” said Higgins of the 6ft 2ins, 16st centre/wing, who has a one-in-two game strike-rate.

“He is only 23 and has done some great things in league already. Hopefully he can bring some of that success to Bath.

“He has played for Leeds since he was 16, Great Britain and England. He will be a great asset to have. England trained with the league boys a couple of years ago and there is definitely stuff that can be taken from both sports.”

The move was instigated by then Bath coach Brian Ashton before he left to join England as attack coach and Higgins added:  "I have worked with Brian before and I was really disappointed when he left because he is very good at bringing the best out of people.

"The guys have taken on board what he coaches - the freedom and responsibility of playing what you see - and hopefully we will carry that on into next year. His imprint is there on the club, as shown by Chev’s signing.”

Higgins himself is aiming to do make an impression when he makes his first tour start after being called up to replace the injured Paul Sackey but arriving too late to play in last Saturday’s damp opening defeat to Scotland.

England are second in the pool and need Canada to beat Scotland in Ottawa tonight (Wednesday) and then win Saturday’s game against the hosts by a significant score to top the table.

With a dry day forecast in contrast to last weekend’s deluge, England Saxons Head Coach Jon Callard has included Higgins in a pacy back three alongside England Sevens winger Richard Haughton and London Irish full-back Delon Armitage.

Higgins, who came off the bench in last year’s Churchill Cup final, said: “I am really excited about this weekend. Delon and Richard are full of gas so we have some pace there. Hopefully it will be dry so we can get our patterns right and the ball out into space and take advantage.”

England Saxons: D Armitage (London Irish): R Haughton (Saracens), B Johnston (capt, Saracens), C Bell (Leeds Tykes), A Higgins (Bath Rugby); D Walder (Newcastle Falcons); R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), M Ward (Newcastle Falcons), D Paice (London Irish), R Morris (Newcastle Falcons), N Kennedy (London Irish), K Roche (London Irish), L Narraway (Gloucester), D Seymour (Saracens), K Horstmann (Worcester Warriors): Replacements (from): J Buckland (Leicester Tigers), S Turner (Sale Sharks), D Barnes (Bath Rugby), J Hudson (Bath Rugby), A Beattie (Bath Rugby), B Woods (Newcastle Falcons), C Stuart-Smith (Llanelli Scarlets), S Vesty (Leicester Tigers), A Crockett (Bath Rugby), A Erinle (London Wasps)