PAUL Anderson has named the England Academy team to face France at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium tonight and there are four young Saints in the starting line-up.

The team will be led by St Helens half-back George Whitby, who will have company from clubmates Harry Robertson, Owen Dagnall and Jake Davies.

Alongside Whitby in the halves will be Hull FC’s Jack Charles, one of several selections who already have Super League experience. They include Warrington Wolves pair Cai Taylor-Wray and Arron Lindop – a try-scorer on home turf against Wigan Warriors in the Wolves’ 18-19 Super League defeat in May.

Also among Anderson’s 17 are two players who have just signed long-term deals with Leeds Rhinos. Loose forward Presley Cassell has just agreed a new five year contract, while centre Marcus Qareqare has signed a four-year deal.

Former Saints prop Anderson, head of England pathways, said: “I’m really excited about what this group can achieve.

"In the last few days, we have exposed the players to what an England environment looks and feels like, with the challenge and intensity of short-term representative preparation that they might one day experience at senior international level.

"Now it’s almost time for us to take high quality practice out onto the field.”

England Academy versus France takes place at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, on Tuesday 2 July, 7.30pm. Admission is £5 (£2 concessions).

The match will also be streamed live on the RFL’s YouTube channel from 7.15pm.

England Academy team (including players’ professional and community clubs)

  1. Harry Robertson (St Helens/Halton Hornets)
  2. Marcus Qareqare (Leeds Rhinos/Lock Lane)
  3. Arron Lindop (Warrington Wolves/Latchford Giants)
  4. Ryan Westerman (Hull FC/Beverley Braves)
  5. Owen Dagnall (St Helens/Halton Hornets, Capt.)
  6. George Whitby (St Helens/Blackbrook)
  7. Jack Charles (Hull FC/Beverley Braves)
  8. Tom McKinney (Warrington Wolves/Hensingham)
  9. William Hutchinson (Hull FC/Skirlaugh)
  10. Kian McDermott (Wigan Warriors/Wigan St Patrick’s)
  11. Jake Davies (St Helens/Halton Hornets)
  12. Lukas Mason (Wigan Warriors/Siddal)
  13. Taylor Kerr (Wigan Warriors/Wigan St Jude’s)
  14. Cai Taylor-Wray (Warrington Wolves/East Leeds)
  15. Archie Sykes (Huddersfield Giants/Greetland Allrounders)
  16. Presley Cassell (Leeds Rhinos/West Bowling)
  17. Joe Phillips (Leeds Rhinos/Siddal)