England Counties in action v Scotland Club XV in the recent spring internationals.

England Counties take on CSM Bucaresti today in the opening match of their Romania tour.

The match day squad sees fourteen players potentially making their England Counties debut with eight making the starting XV.

Both scrum halves, Matt Shepherd of Cornwall who starts, and Will Crow on the bench, make their debuts after impressing in successful county championship campaigns.

Head Coach, Matt Long said: “It will be good to see some of the lads we haven’t seen before perform under match conditions.

“We’re expecting a very hard game against CSM Bucaresti, they’re a very well organised club side in the middle of their season with several international players in their midst as well.

“It’s going to be hot conditions as well which is something else for our players to contend with, but we’re really looking forward to the test, plenty of new caps with a spine of experienced players, we’re all up for the challenge.”

Keith Laughlin captains the side who along with his Blaydon and Northumberland counterpart Chris Wearmouth and lock Ben Hilton of Cornwall add experience to an exciting squad.

CSM Bucaresti V England Counties kicks off at 4pm GMT at The Stadionul.

England Counties Squad:

Forwards:  1. David Laverick (Hull Lonians / Yorkshire) 2. Samuel Wilkes ((Cinderford / Gloucestershire) 3. Craig Williams (Redruth / Cornwall)  4. Christopher Wearmouth (Blaydon / Durham) 5. ‎Ben Hilton (Launceston / Cornwall) 6. Keith Laughlin (capt, Blaydon / Northumberland) 7. Harry Bate (Blaydon / Northumberland) 8. George Oram (Blackheath / Kent)

Backs: 9. Matthew Shepherd (Launceston / Cornwall) 10. Alexander Gallagher (Blackheath / Kent) 11. James Speirs (Old Albanians / Hertfordshire) 12. Albert Portsmouth (Cambridge / Eastern Counties) 13. Sam Winter (Bishop Storford Hertfordshire) 14. Jordan Dorrington (Fylde / Lancashire) 15. Henry Robinson (Darlington Mowden Park / Hertfordhsire).

Replacements: 16. Andy Berry (Old Albanians/Hertfordshire) 17. ‎Stephen Johnson (Hull Ionians/ Yorkshire) 18. Matthew Beesley  (Wharefdale/Cheshire) 19. Gavin Jones (Blaydon/Yorkshire) 20. Nyle Davidson (Caldy/Cheshire) 21. William Crow (Dorking/Surrey) 22. Leo Fielding (Cinderford/Gloucestershire)  23. Mike Wilcox (Cinderford/Gloucestershire).