Newcastle Falcons hooker Ollie Fletcher has been named in the England Students squad to take on France Universities in Coventry on Saturday May 4.

The Newcastle University student is joined in the group by Durham University scrum-half Max Pepper, who made his Gallagher Premiership debut at Bristol last weekend, with former Falcons prop Darren Fearn coaching the England squad.

Fearn said: “It’s always a really exciting test match and a great spectacle. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of future Premiership, Championship and Top 14 players on show, as there has been for the last numerous years.

“It’s always a tough challenge against the French. We went over to France last year and got our first win there for 17 years, which was special. They’re always a really strong opposition, and they’ve got players who go on to play Top 14 and Pro D2.

“A lot of players from England Students over the years have gone on to play regularly in the Premiership and the Championship. It’s a great development opportunity, it’s a great test match, and it’s always a good rugby game.”

England Students squad to face France Universities:

Barnaby Waddell (Cardiff Met)
Callum Hancock (Leeds Beckett)
Charlie Briers (Loughborough)
Charlie McCaig (Exeter)
Connor Hancock (Leeds Beckett)
Connor Moyse (Nottingham)
Eric Nixon (Loughborough)
George Taylor (Loughborough)
Iwan Price-Thomas (Bath)
Jack Forsythe (Exeter)
Jay Ecclesfield (Nottingham Trent)
Joe Mounsey (Newcastle)
Joshua MacAndrew (Exeter)
Josiah Edwards-Giraud (Hartpury)
Louis Kirkham (Leeds Beckett)
Lucas Dorrell (Exeter)
Max Pepper (Durham)
Morgan Meredith (Loughborough)
Oliver Fletcher (Newcastle)
Rhys William Price (Hartpury)
Tom Gulley (Exeter)
Thomas Matthews (Hartpury)
Will Jeanes (Bath)