Redruth's Luke Collins to start for England Counties XV

Collins played for England Counties against France Amateurs in 2009

Redruth lock Luke Collins has been handed a starting berth for the England Counties first tour game of Canada.

Collins will be joined in the Counties XV by Plymouth Albion scrum-half Tom Kessel for the game against The Rock at Swilers RFC in Newfoundland on Friday.

Kessel is one of 13 players who will make their England debut in the match.

The Counties squad, which is drawn from 17 different clubs, will play opposition in Newfoundland, Toronto and Vancouver on their Canadian tour.

Friday's team will be led by Birmingham & Solihull prop Matt Long, who at 37 is the oldest player in the squad.

Manager Danny Hodgson said: "The calibre of the players is very, very high right across the board, without a single exception.

"We said at the outset that every player would play in one of the first two games and get a chance to prove himself, and that's what is going to happen."

England Counties XV: G Collins (Leicester Lions), F Mulchrone (Macclesfield), H Staff (Blackheath), S Hamilton (Blackheath), J Tincknell (Wharfedale), R Winney (Macclesfield), T Kessell (Plymouth Albion), M Long (Birmingham Solihull), M Hall (Blaydon), C Voisey (Rotherham), L Collins (Redruth), H Spencer (Saracens), M Wilson (Blaydon), W Fraser (Saracens), M Evans (Moseley).

Replacements: J Roddam (Fylde), G Woods (Caldy), N Flynn (Sedgley Park), L McGowan (Coventry), D Baines (Macclesfield), W Cliff (Sale), K Dench (Harrogate), T Jarvis (unattached).