Fylde wingman Nick Royle goes into his second game for the England RU Counties XV tomorrow (Monday, September 10, 18.00) against Spain in the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival in Morlaas, South West France with a clear message to his team-mates – give me the ball!

In their opening game the England team, the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Premiership, destroyed Russia with a breathtaking exhibition of fluent, adventurous Rugby. They scored 12 tries in the process and produced the most exhilarating display ever seen from a Counties XV.

But the Fylde flier, who scored 35 tries last season for his club and six for Lancashire, managed only one touchdown, the opening try after only two minutes. The rest of the time he spent trying to get his hands on a ball which moved around as though it was on a pin-ball table, but never to rest in his hands when there was scope to work.

“It was a bit frustrating,” he said: “I got the ball a few times, but there was never any space on my side to do anything really. So it was a case of trekking across the field trying to get hold of the ball, but it never happened. The ball was being thrown everywhere and there were breaks all over the place, but somehow neither me nor Tom (Jarvis) on the other wing managed to get on the end of them.

“So I’m hoping that more of the ball against Spain finds its way to the right wing and that I get a chance to show what I can do.”

Despite a frustrating evening against Russia, Royle’s enthusiasm for the trip is as sharp as ever.

“The whole thing is brilliant,” he says: “Yes, there is some waiting around at times, but the training is very good, the weather is fine – there aren’t any excuses for not enjoying the trip.”

Royle was not the only person in the England Counties camp frustrated by the way the game unfolded so far as the Fylde man was concerned.

The 23-year-old possesses similar characteristics to another former England Counties wingman who went on to make a name for himself at senior level, David Strettle, and there were great expectations in the camp at what might happen if Royle got the opportunity to reveal his explosive pace.

Royle was turning heads from the minute he started training, comparison’s with Strettle extending beyond his blond hair. More importantly, he is also a destructive broken field runner, with plenty of pace and, at 6ft and almost 14stone, enough power to get him through tackles when sheer speed has put defenders at full stretch.

Grandson of former Widnes RLFC professional Jim Royle, he first started playing rugby union at college in Widnes having first shown a preference for the oval ball as a six-year-old at Halton Hornets ARFC. Since then he has combined Rugby Union at Birchfield and Manchester RU clubs with spells at Widnes and Warrington RL clubs before settling in at Fylde.

“It would be nice to have full-time rugby career again and I certainly wouldn’t mind following in David Strettle’s footsteps.” he says, tongue-in-cheek.

For that ambition to be developed, a few more passes and a yard or two of space in tomorrow’s game in Morlaas would be very welcome.

One man who might be able to help the cause is Tynedale full-back Jack Smales, who makes his Counties XVB debut, following in the footsteps of his brother Hamish. He is also a player with plenty of pace and a sharp rugby brain and can bring an added dimension to the back-play.

Sadly, one Northerner who will be missing tomorrow is fly-half Alastair Simmie. The Durham University was in the starting line-up, but had to withdraw when he damaged his thigh practising his pace-kicking at the end of today’s morning session.

Tristan Roberts, the outstanding player in the win over Russia takes the No 10 shirt.

Otley club-mates Kyle Dench and Paul Mooney team up in midfield, while James Doherty and Dan Cooper start at scrum-half and flanker respectively having both impressed as second-half replacements in the 76-10 win over Russia.

England Counties XV (v Spain, Monday, September 10, 2007, 18,00 in Morlaas): Jack Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland); Nick Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), Kyle Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), Paul Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), Tom Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire); Tristan Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), James Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire); Chris Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), Dean Bick (Blackheath & North Midlands), Peter Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), Thomas Bason (Blackheath & Kent), James Kellard (Blackheath & Kent), Dan Cooper (Durham University & Durham), David Archer  (Henley & Hertfordshire).

Replacements: Glenn Cooper (Redruth & Somerset), James  Darren Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), Richard Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), David Allen (Blackheath & Kent),  Craig Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), James Jenner (Stourbridge &  Gloucestershire), ), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Frankie Neale (Blackheath & Kent), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire)

) against Spain in the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival in Morlaas, South West France (17.00) with a clear message to his team-mates – give me the ball.

In their opening game the England team, the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Premiership, destroyed Russia with a breathtaking exhibition of fluent, adventurous Rugby. They scored 12 tries in the process and produced the most exhilarating display ever seen from a Counties XV.

But the Fylde flier, who scored 35 tries last season for his club and six for Lancashire, managed only one touchdown, the opening try after only two minutes. The rest of the time he spent trying to get his hands on a ball which moved around as though it was on a pin-ball table, but never to rest in his hands when there was scope to work.

“It was a bit frustrating,” he said: “I got the ball a few times, but there was never any space on my side to do anything really. So it was a case of trekking across the field trying to get hold of the ball, but it never happened. The ball was being thrown everywhere and there were breaks all over the place, but somehow neither me nor Tom (Jarvis) on the other wing managed to get on the end of them.

“So I’m hoping that more of the ball against Spain finds its way to the right wing and that I get a chance to show what I can do.”

Despite a frustrating evening against Russia, Royle’s enthusiasm for the trip is as sharp as ever.

“The whole thing is brilliant,” he says: “Yes, there is some waiting around at times, but the training is very good, the weather is fine – there aren’t any excuses for not enjoying the trip.”

Royle was not the only person in the England Counties camp frustrated by the way the game unfolded so far as the Fylde man was concerned.

The 23-year-old possesses similar characteristics to another former England Counties wingman who went on to make a name for himself at senior level, David Strettle, and there were great expectations in the camp at what might happen if Royle got the opportunity to reveal his explosive pace.

Royle was turning heads from the minute he started training, comparison’s with Strettle extending beyond his blond hair. More importantly, he is also a destructive broken field runner, with plenty of pace and, at 6ft and almost 14stone, enough power to get him through tackles when sheer speed has put defenders at full stretch.

Grandson of former Widnes RLFC professional Jim Royle, he first started playing rugby union at college in Widnes having first shown a preference for the oval ball as a six-year-old at Halton Hornets ARFC. Since then he has combined Rugby Union at Birchfield and Manchester RU clubs with spells at Widnes and Warrington RL clubs before settling in at Fylde.

“It would be nice to have full-time rugby career again and I certainly wouldn’t mind following in David Strettle’s footsteps.” he says, tongue-in-cheek.

For that ambition to be developed, a few more passes and a yard or two of space in tomorrow’s game in Morlaas would be very welcome.

One man who might be able to help the cause is Tynedale full-back Jack Smales, who makes his Counties XVB debut, following in the footsteps of his brother Hamish. He is also a player with plenty of pace and a sharp rugby brain and can bring an added dimension to the back-play.

Sadly, one Northerner who will be missing tomorrow is fly-half Alastair Simmie. The Durham University was in the starting line-up, but had to withdraw when he damaged his thigh practising his pace-kicking at the end of today’s morning session.

Tristan Roberts, the outstanding player in the win over Russia takes the No 10 shirt.

Otley club-mates Kyle Dench and Paul Mooney team up in midfield, while James Doherty and Dan Cooper start at scrum-half and flanker respectively having both impressed as second-half replacements in the 76-10 win over Russia.

England Counties XV (v Spain, Monday, September 10, 2007, 18,00 in Morlaas): Jack Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland); Nick Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), Kyle Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), Paul Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), Tom Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire); Tristan Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), James Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire); Chris Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), Dean Bick (Blackheath & North Midlands), Peter Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), Thomas Bason (Blackheath & Kent), James Kellard (Blackheath & Kent), Dan Cooper (Durham University & Durham), David Archer  (Henley & Hertfordshire).

Replacements: Glenn Cooper (Redruth & Somerset), James  Darren Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), Richard Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), David Allen (Blackheath & Kent),  Craig Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), James Jenner (Stourbridge &  Gloucestershire), ), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Frankie Neale (Blackheath & Kent), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire)