BARNARD Castle School's No 8, Alex Gray, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his late uncle, Dave Mitchell.

Despite being only 15, Alex steps out with the senior school team in the Daily Mail Cup semi-final against Berkshire's Wellington College at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, tomorrow.

Mitchell, who played for England Schools and captained West Hartlepool in the top flight before becoming a player/coach at Mowden Park, died from leukaemia two years ago, aged 33.

Alex, the son of Dave's sister, Catherine, has since been determined to use the inspiration he gained from his uncle and follow him into an England team.

He was recently named in the England Under 16 squad, along with schoolmate Tom Catterick, a fly half who lives in Darlington.

Alex, whose family home is in Bishop Auckland, said: "I'm delighted with the England call-up.

"I first watched Dave play from my mother's knee at West and I started playing when I was six. He started it all for me and was a great inspiration. He used to take me along to Mowden, but I don't have time to play there now."

Alex, who stands 6ft 5in, will have two more years in the school team but hopes to help the current side book a trip to Twickenham by winning tomorrow.

After that he has to fit in some training weekends with the England squad for a Four Nations tournament also involving France, Italy and Wales, which takes place at three Midlands clubs starting on April 5.

Newcastle Falcons welcome back their trio of England stars for tomorrow's Guinness Premiership trip to London Irish.

It will be Jonny Wilkinson's first start for the club since he starred in the home win over Bristol in November, after which he was ruled out by a lacerated kidney.

Mathew Tait will be at outside centre, with Jamie Noon inside him, while Toby Flood has been named on the left wing, although Director of Rugby John Fletcher insists that does not mean he will stay there. The intention is for the back line continually to shuffle places.

Following last Friday's 37-11 home win over Wasps, the only other change sees James Grindal at scrum half in place of Lee Dickson.

Dickson and utility back Loki Crichton are on bench, while Mark Mayerhofler and winger John Rudd drop out of the squad.

Fletcher said: "Toby is obviously not going to play that much on the wing, although he will be there at times.

"We just want our good players on the pitch and depending on what move we are playing they will alternate positions.

"People tend to get a bit too emotional about shirt numbers, and especially in the backs we have very few specialist players so it's not that relevant. The only real specialist is Matt Burke at full back, but like Tom May he also comes in at first and second receiver a fair bit in attack."

Newcastle Falcons: Matt Burke (capt), Tom May, Mathew Tait, Jamie Noon, Toby Flood, Jonny Wilkinson, James Grindal, Joe McDonnell, Matt Thompson, Micky Ward, Mark Sorenson, Jason Oakes, Geoff Parling, Ben Woods, Russell Winter.

Darlington Mowden Park are hoping to have Newcastle's Tim Visser for the rest of the season, although the Falcons can recall him, if necessary.

The 19-year-old Dutchman, who was brought over by the Falcons to complete his education at Barnard Castle, was registered by Mowden yesterday and is likely to play at centre in tomorrow's home match against Cleckheaton.

He impressed in several appearances last season for Mowden, who are also still hoping that the Falcons will release Ross Batty to play for them.

They expected to have him two weeks ago, but an injury to hooker Andy Long meant the Falcons needed him for bench duties. Long has recovered, however, and is on the bench tomorrow.

Mowden have also signed a Fijian flier, named Ben Seru, who is stationed at Ripon with the army and is just back from Iraq.

Also in National Three North, Darlington visit Fylde tomorrow, while Blaydon are at home to Morley.

Newcastle's Alex Tait has been switched from full back to outside centre for England Under-19s' match against Wales at Aberavon tonight (7.15)

He will be partnered by Greg King, one of three Worcester Warriors players in the team, as coaches Dorian West and Mark Mapletoft will look at new combinations in midfield and in the front-row in the build-up to the Under-19 World Championships