JAMES Roby will present the shirts to the England team on Friday on the eve of their game with the Combined Nations All Stars.

Five of those shirts could be handed to Saints players – with Joe Batchelor, Alex Walmsley, Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson and Matty Lees all included in the 20-man squad for Saturday’s clash at Warrington.

But England coach Shaun Wane remains hopeful that that will not be the Saints’ skipper’s only role with the team this World Cup year and says his door will always be open if Roby changes his mind on international retirement.

Wane said: “James phoned me and told me he wanted to retire and I have too much respect for him to be asking him to change his mind.

“He is an outstanding player and 500 and odd games in he is still doing it now.

“If he changes his mind I am sure he will let me know.”

St Helens Star:

Jack Welsby will play in the first of England’s warm-up games ahead of the autumn World Cup, with Wane wanting to see him operate in a couple of positions.

“Jack is a proper rugby player, a natural rugby player who you can pick anywhere and he will learn it and play well in that position.

“That is a credit to what they have done at St Helens and his amateur club.

“I rate him very highly and he is very easy to pick and a great kid to get along with as well,” Wane said.

With full back Sam Tomkins skippering the side it could be that Welsby slots in at centre ot stand off for this one – but Wanes says his versatility is a major asset.

“The beauty of Jack is that can play really well anywhere – full back, centre or halves – he is just a natural talent, a really good rugby player,” he said.

“In all honesty I am not 100 per cent sure where his best position will be, but he is going to play this weekend and I will have a look at him in a couple of positions this weekend and it is important that I see him play in those positions.”