Shropshire rugby's Graham Kitchener set for Twickenham

A senior England appearance at Twickenham beckons for Shropshire rugby star Graham Kitchener this weekend.

The 21-year-old lock, who hails from Baschurch, played his early rugby at Shrewsbury and was a pupil at Adams Grammar School in Newport, is one of five newcomers named in the England team to face the Barbarians on Sunday.

It is sure to be one of the highlights of Kitchener's brief career as he lines up alongside established England stars, including Charlie Hodgson, albeit in a non-cap game.

England have named an experimental line-up with the core of the Saxons squad due to defend the Churchill Cup next month named in the line-up. The side will be coached by Stuart Lancaster, with former England international Jon Callard amongst the backroom team.

Head coach Lancaster said: "It's a very exciting line-up with a good blend of experience and youth and we have the opportunity to measure ourselves against a very experienced Barbarians side.

"It is a young England team and the match day squad has an average age of 23, but these are players who've been in terrific form for their clubs."

Six-foot-six Kitchener has revealed he will leave his current club Worcester Warriors during the summer with Aviva Premiership big guns Leicester Tigers and Gloucester both having shown an interest.

By JAMES GARRISON