NEWCASTLE Falcons will tomorrow become the first club to field a squad of 22 England-qualified players for a Premiership match.

Making his first start since November, Jonny Wilkinson will captain the side for the first time this season in their final match of the season at home to relegated Leeds.

With skipper Colin Charvis and Scotland lock Stuart Grimes again left out of the squad, it looks increasingly likely that they will be released.

Australian full back Matt Burke, who has led the side when Charvis has been absent, is rested, along with New Zealanders Cory Harris and Mark Mayerhofler.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew insisted that he had not deliberately set out to pick 22 Englishmen, saying: "It's just the way it has worked out.

"We wanted to rest Matt Burke because he has played virtually every game and took a bit of a knock on his neck last week.

"If we expect to get another two years out of him we have to be realistic in terms of his workload, otherwise he will break down.

"I have also been trying for a while to see Anthony Elliott at full back because I think he has a lot to offer there and this represents a great chance."

Harris's absence allows Ben Woods to revert to open side with Andy Buist coming at No 8 and the back row cover on the bench will be provided by Ed Williamson and Greg Irvin.

Williamson, from Darlington, could make his first appearance of the season while Irvin, a Durham University student, is in line for his debut.

He was named Player of the Season for England Students.

Toby Flood, who picked up a shoulder injury last week, has recovered well enough to sit on the bench, but his absence from the starting line-up means the Falcons will play Wilkinson, Jamie Noon and Mathew Tait together for the first time this season.

"It's a bit ironic it has taken us until the last game to see them together," said Andrew.

"It sums up some of the frustrations we have had.

"Noon and Tait are both keen to go on England's summer tour to Australia and this is another opportunity for them to show what they can do.

"This 22 is a reflection of what this club is about.

"We have had some of the biggest names in world rugby here like Burke, Inga Tuigamala and Mark Andrews, but from day one we have strived to establish a club which is fundamentally based on developing our own young players."