Bridgnorth scrum-half Adam Smallwood and Stamford lock Andrew Jones will make their debuts for the England Deaf side in their opening international of the season against world champions Wales at Broadstreet RFC near Coventry on Sunday February 3 (1pm).
Smallwood and Jones have secured their places in the starting line-up having come through a series of regional trials and Smallwood has also been appointed vice-captain to his half-back partner Mark Lewis (East Grinstead) in his first international.
A third Midlands player, Wolverhampton prop Tom Cowdale, is also in line to win his first cap having been named as a replacement.
Three more Midlands players have been named in the England squad for the Wales game with blindside flanker Brett Pruce (Aylestone St James) in the starting XV and lock Dan McAllister (Luton) and wing Tim Quigley (Northampton Mens Own) on the bench.
The Wales game will be the first of two internationals played by England Deaf at Broadstreet this season with Scotland following on March 9.
The squad is drawn from club registered English players from across the country who have a certified hearing impairment the equivalent of being fully deaf in one ear although many of the players have a profound hearing impairment.
Tickets for these internationals cost £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.
England Deaf Rugby Union is an Associate Member of the RFU, and their programme is supported by the Community Rugby Department.
This season the BBC are filming the Union's activities profiling several of the players for an upcoming documentary.
The England players will also be presented with their caps by the current Miss England, Georgia Horsley, on Sunday.
Georgia, who represented England at the Miss World event last month, is a lifelong rugby fan who also has a hearing impairment.
England Deaf v Wales at Broadstreet, Sunday February 3 (1pm): 15 Charlie James (New Brighton); 14 Gavin Jackson (Selby), 13 Guy Lavery (Tunbridge Wells), 12 Matt Woodward (Chinnor), 11 Alex Astbury (Twickenham); 10 Mark Lewis (East Grinstead - captain), 9 Adam Smallwood (Bridgnorth - vice-captain); 1 Robert Hill (Folkestone), 2 Matt vandenbrouck (Paignton - pack leader), 3 Nick Todd (Petersfield), 4 Kris Mannering (Guildford), 5 Andrew Jones (Stamford), 6 Brett Pruce (Aylestone St James), 7 Ian Collins (Sevenoaks), 8 Matt Gilbert (Hartpury College). Replacements: Tom Cowdale (Wolverhampton), Tony Wilkinson (Chinnor), Dan McAllister (Luton), Nick McKen (Burnham-on-Sea), Brett Hanratty (Ryton), Tim Quigley (Northampton Mens Own), Mark Todd (Andover).
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