DRINGHOUSES youngster Pat Smith is in line to win his third international cap for Ireland tomorrow when they take on England Knights at St Helens’ Langtree Park.
Fellow Yorkie Ross Divorty is also set for more international action with Wales.
However, there will be no place in the full England team for former York favourite Danny Brough after he was left out of the opening International Origin clash.
Hooker Smith, who plays for Sheffield Eagles and is the older brother of York City Knights second-row Ed Smith, is one of 19 players named in the Ireland squad by boss Mark Aston, also head coach at the Eagles.
The England Knights team is made up of fringe England players, and Smith said: “I’m looking forward to it. It will be tough – England Knights are all full-time players and the majority of the Ireland squad are part-time.”
The Ireland squad were having only two training sessions ahead of the game.
“It’s tough, we don’t get much time together but we’ll prepare for the game,” said Smith, who was hoping a good show could also boost his first-team prospects at Sheffield.
“I played in the European Cup last autumn and I’m looking forward to being back involved with Ireland. It’ll be an experience and I hope to enjoy it.
“It’s important for me because with Mark (Aston) being my club coach as well it means I can put down a foot for a first-team spot – it’s a double-barrelled opportunity if I get picked.”
This game kicks off at 4.15pm ahead of the International Origin clash between England and The Exiles at the same ground, which starts at 6.45pm.
Former York half-back Brough is in the England squad for the two-match series.
But the 29-year-old Huddersfield playmaker, who previously captained Scotland before switching allegiances, has been omitted from tomorrow’s 17. Leeds’ Kevin Sinfield is preferred at stand-off.
Divorty, meanwhile, is to link up again with the Wales team for their international against France at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham (2.30pm).
The former Archbishop Holgate’s School pupil and ex-York back-row has become a Wales regular, playing in the Four Nations last year. He faces two games in 24 hours as he is also in the Halifax squad for their Northern Rail Cup quarter-final against Barrow on Sunday.
England (v The Exiles): Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Josh Charnley (Wigan), Carl Ablett (Leeds), Ryan Atkins (Warrington), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield), James Roby (St Helens). Jamie Peacock (Leeds), Gareth Hock (Wigan), Danny Tickle (Hull), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Lee Mossop (Wigan), Jamie Jones-Buchanan (Leeds).
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