TWO players from Hampshire have been included in in the 46-man England under-19 training squad for the forthcoming unofficial Six Nations Championship, which was announced this week.

Basingstoke and RGS High Wycombe centre Tom Rees and former Fordingbridge hooker James Greenwood, now on the verge of the full London Irish team, have been named for the five matches against the home nations in January, February and March.

The matches are a precursor to the FIRA Under-19 World Cup in April 2003 in France, so the pair will be aiming to impress coach Tosh Askew, who believes this "is an important step in term of development of the players because it mirrors what happens at Under 21, A and senior level."

England will continue their build-up with two two-day training sessions at Broadstreet Rugby Club over the next couple of weeks, where after the squad will be thinned down, but the Hampshire pair are hoping to beat the cut.

Both Basingstoke and Fordingbridge Rugby Clubs are rightly proud of their protgs, with Steve Tristram, the chairman of the former stating of Rees, "We are very proud of his achievements and wish him every success."

Rees, who captained England under-16 and played for the under-18s aged 17 last season, steps up once again while Greenwood's former club are thrilled at the Ringwood-based teenager's progress.

"Badger (Greenwood's nickname) is still very much a part of the Fordingbridge club and comes to see us any time he can," the club said. "It is fantastic that he has been rewarded for his efforts."

Should the pair make it, England play Scotland at the end of January, before hosting France on February 14. A trip to Llanelli to face Wales follows, while Italy arrive on March 7 ahead of the visit to Cork a week later - the fixtures coinciding with the Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship.