Newcastle Falcons duo Jamie Blamire and Guy Pepper will both start for England ‘A’ when they take on Portugal at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this Sunday February 25 (1pm KO).

Blamire who already holds seven international appearances to his name, will start at hooker and Pepper, earning his first England appearance outside of age-grade level will start at openside flanker.

The squad, which features some of the biggest names from around the Gallagher Premiership, has been training in the East Midlands this week under the leadership of head coach George Skivington, attack coach Sam Vesty and defence coach Dom Waldouck.

The coaching trio selected the matchday 23 in consultation with England senior men’s head coach Steve Borthwick and RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby Conor O’Shea.  

Os Lobos will face England following an impressive showing in last year’s Rugby World Cup, which included a draw against Georgia followed by a first-ever tournament win over quarter-finalists Fiji. 

England Men’s A head coach, George Skivington, said: “It’s been great to get together with the group this week at Loughborough and I’ve been really impressed by the high standards they’ve shown. We’ve put the boys through a challenging programme that has tested them to the intense rigor that Portugal will arrive with on Sunday. 

“Our visitors are in the midst of the Rugby Europe Championship and will no doubt be using Sunday as an opportunity to experiment, but their strength as a union has been evident recently. They will certainly provide a stern test for us, but it’s a test that the players, Dom, Sam and I are relishing. 

“I am really excited to see the side take to the field against Portugal on Sunday. I really believe we have assembled a squad that possesses some of the most exciting developing talent the Gallagher Premiership has to offer, and I’m sure they’ll put on a show for the fans in Leicester.” 

The match will be streamed live England Rugby social media channels. 

England Men’s A team to face Portugal (includes current club, community club and senior caps) 

15 Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs, Vale of Lune RUFC) 

14 Cadan Murley (Harlequins, Wadebridge Camels RFC) 

13 Oscar Beard (Harlequins, Farnham RUFC) 

12 Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, Chippenham RFC) 

11 Will Muir (Bath Rugby, Guisborough RUFC) 

10 Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, Oxford RFC) 

9 Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, Tycroes RFC, 6 caps) 

1 Fin Baxter (Harlequins, Cobham RFC) 

2 Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, Seaton Rangers ARLFC, 7 caps) 

3 Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham Moderns RFC & Newark RFC, 7 caps) 

4 Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs, Devonport Services RFC) 

5 Charlie Ewels (c) (Bath Rugby, Bournemouth Rugby, 30 caps) 

6 Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, Bromyard Rugby Club, 1 cap) 

7 Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle Rugby Club) 

8 Alfie Barbeary (Bath Rugby, Banbury RUFC) 

Replacements 

16 Sam Riley (Harlequins, Chobham RFC) 

17 Tarek Haffar (Northampton Saints, Grasshoppers RFC) 

18 Josh Iosefa-Scott (Exeter Chiefs, Melville Rugby) 

19 Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks, Langworthy Reds ARLFC) 

20 Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs, Devonport Services RFC) 

21 Caolan Englefield (Gloucester Rugby, Old Rutlishians Rugby) 

22 Jamie Shillcock (Leicester Tigers, Southam RUFC) 

23 Oliver Hartley (Saracens, Hammersmith and Fulham Rugby Club)