YOUNG Saints packman George Delaney has been called up to the England Knights squad for the game against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday (Myreside, 1.30pm).

The strong running prop has impressed in the Saints academy this year and made his senior debut in the match against Castleford after Easter and impressed with some direct running against Wakefield in September.

This call up is a reward for that progress and he will come up against fellow Saint James Bell in the Scottish side.

 

Delaney and Wigan's Harvie Hill were in the Lancashire squad that swept to a 3-0 victory over Yorkshire in this year’s Academy Origin series.

Knights assistant coach Paul Sculthorpe said: “It’s a great learning curve for George and Harvie, and a massive challenge for all the squad who’ll be up against players who are preparing to play in the World Cup.

“I’ve followed George and Harvie’s progress for a number of years and they've definitely earned the right to be part of the Knights programme.

"Over 50 senior England internationals have come through this pathway, and they too are potential England players of the future.

“All the players have been outstanding in training and produced a fantastic performance in France. It wasn’t a classic, but it was solid and the whole experience was character-building. We learned a lot from it.”

Saturday’s match will be screened live on The Sportsman YouTube channel from 1.15pm.

It will be Scotland’s only warm up match before they begin their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Italy in Newcastle on Sunday 16 October.

England Knights: Jack Broadbent (Featherstone Rovers), Deon Cross (Salford Red Devils), George Delaney (St Helens), Tyler Dupree (Salford Red Devils), Matthew English (Huddersfield Giants), Ethan Havard, Harvie Hill (both Wigan Warriors), Jordan Lane (Hull FC), Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten (both Hull KR), Ellis Longstaff, Matt Nicholson (Warrington Wolves), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants), Oliver Russell (Huddersfield Giants), Josh Thewlis (Warrington Wolves), Liam Tindall (Leeds Rhinos), Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), Matthew Whitley (Catalans Dragons, Capt.)

Scotland Euan Aitken, Luke Bain, James Bell, Ryan Brierley, Kieran Buchanan, Logan Bayliss-Brow, Lewis Clarke, Davey Dixon, Charlie Emslie, Dale Ferguson, Calum Gahan, Guy Graham, Bailey Hayward, Ben Hellewell, Liam Hood, Kane Linnett, Bayley Liu, Sam Luckly, Matty Russell, Kyle Schneider, Jack Teanby, Shane Toal, Alex Walker, Lachlan Walmsley