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Page last updated at 16:13 GMT, Friday, 10 June 2011 17:13 UK

Wiltshire's Jamie Gibson targets England's senior side

Jamie Gibson
Jamie Gibson has already played for England's junior sides

Wiltshire's Jamie Gibson hopes he is on the right road to an England senior rugby cap in the future.

The London Irish star from Mildenhall near Marlborough, is currently in the Saxons squad for the Churchill Cup.

Gibson, 20, was a replacement in the non-cap international against the Barbarians at Twickenham recently.

"Having got into the Saxons squad, I need to keep my place then in the next couple of years try to push for that England spot," he told BBC Wiltshire.

The former Marlborough College student has come through England's youth ranks and made his London Irish bow in 2009.

He hopes the experience of being in the Saxons set-up will pay dividends.

"It's a great group of players with a few young guys like myself and the older players like Paul Hodgson, Topsy Ojo, Luke Narraway."

Gibson came on as an early substitute in the Saxon's record breaking 87-8 victory over United States last weekend.

"The game went brilliantly, we were on top and we were very pleased to keep our concentration."

Last month the flanker, who combines playing rugby with studying classics at Oxford University, was called up by England's senior side to sit on the bench against the Barbarians, coming on in the second half.

"It was slightly surreal," he admitted. "It was a brilliant experience and I was surprised to get called up in the first place.

"I remember going to Twickenham when I was about 10 years old but to actually stand on the pitch was weird."



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see also
England Saxons 87-8 USA
04 Jun 11 |  English
Exiles quintet extend contracts
02 Mar 11 |  London Irish


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