Redruth's Sam Heard to start for England Counties

Heard signed for Redruth after three years with Cornish Pirates

Redruth prop Sam Heard has been selected in the starting line-up for Friday's England Counties match against the Ireland Club XV.

The 26-year-old forward, who joined the Reds from the Cornish Pirates in May, is the only South West player in the England squad.

The Ireland match is the first of two for England Counties, with their second against France on 19 March.

The game against Ireland will be played at Stourbridge RFC.

England Counties XV: Frankie Neale (London Scottish); Sam Ulph (Esher), Jack Harrison (Tynedale), Seb Jewell (Esher), David Howells (London Scottish); James Brown (London Scottish), Luke Baldwin (Blackheath); John Williams (Tynedale), Joe Graham (Tynedale), Sam Heard (Redruth), Matt Owen (Macclesfield), Tom Bason (Blackheath), capt, Dan Legge (Cambridge), Darren Fox (Cambridge), Tom Powell (Cambridge).

Replacements: Matt Hall (Blaydon), Tom Warren (Esher), Ben Harris (Huddersfield), Alex Nash (Rugby Lions), Tom Richardson (Stourbridge), Matt Riley (Sedgley Park), Steve Parsons (Harrogate).