KEIGHLEY’S James Whitcombe has been named in the squad for England Under-20s’ Six Nations opener against France in Grenoble this Saturday.

Former Woodhouse Grove pupil Whitcombe, 19, has already represented England at under-18 level and spent last summer on a player exchange visit at Sydney University alongside Leicester Tigers clubmate Sam Eveleigh.

Prop Whitcombe was initially named in a 32-strong training squad for England Under-20s’ Six Nations campaign, before it was whittled down for the opening game.

The teenager hopes to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious family, with his dad Martin, who was capped by England B at senior level and England Schools 19s, making 68 senior appearances for the Tigers in the 1980s.

Martin’s dad Frank Junior propped for Bradford, Yorkshire and the North Eastern Counties, while his grandad, Frank Senior, played rugby league for Bradford Northern and Great Britain.

Former Skipton and Bradford & Bingley junior Whitcombe was part of the Tigers academy squad that earned back-to-back Under-18 League title wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and has stepped up from their academy squad to the development squad for this season.

After the game in France, the England Under-20s have a trip to Scotland, with home matches against Ireland and Wales then preceding a visit to Italy.