Falcons player called up in to full England squad

11:28am Monday 16th June 2008

NEWCASTLE Falcons prop David Wilson has been called up in to the full England squad for Saturday's second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Wilson had helped England Saxons to the final of the Churchill Cup in North America, but now joins the full squad after injury forced prop Andrew Sheridan to miss out.

South Shields-born Wilson said: "My immediate thoughts are with Andrew, and I'm pleased to hear that his recovery is expected to be a relatively quick one.

"I knew England Saxons was a possible stepping stone for me, but I didn't expect the call up to come quite so soon.

"I'm disappointed to be leaving the Saxons, I was really looking forward to playing in the Churchill Cup final, but obviously this is a huge honour and not something I could say no to.

"I played against the Barbarians a couple of weeks ago, but I massively want to get my first cap. I know it may not happen in New Zealand but it's a big step in the right direction and it'll be a great experience for me."

After his promotion to the full squad, Wilson will miss out on a Churchill Cup final match-up with fellow Falcon Steve Jones, who is in the Scotland A squad.

Meanwhile, in the Under-20s World Cup, Newcastle's Alex Tait and Rob Miller are both part of the England squad which now faces a semi-final against South Africa in Cardiff, having defeated Australia in the quarter-finals.

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