Two former Bedford School students have been selected by Eddie Jones for this year’s Six Nations Championship, with the England head coach hoping to mastermind a return to glory after an agonising World Cup final loss in Japan.
Fraser Dingwall and George Furbank, both of whom ply their trade for Northampton Saints in the Gallagher Premiership, have received their maiden call-ups to a 34-man England squad looking to wrestle back the Six Nations title from Wales, who secured a Grand Slam in 2019.
Furbank, who captained Bedford School 1st XV during his time at sixth form, only made his Saints debut in November after moving from Cambridge yet has impressed Jones enough from full-back to warrant a place in the squad.
Fraser Dingwall, a student at Bedford School from 2013 to 2017, has international experience having received 11 caps for the England Under 20’s, but will be hoping to get an opportunity in what is an otherwise strong back line for the World Cup runners-up.
Both players have enjoyed a good season so far with Northampton Saints, who find themselves 2nd in the league table behind Exeter Chiefs and have helped them secure a quarter-final spot in the European Cup, although Furbank’s progress has been hampered somewhat by injury after an exciting couple of months.
The pair join six other uncapped players in the squad along with familiar names in Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Maro Itoje, with the England side facing a tricky opening fixture in Paris on 1st February before travelling to Scotland the following week.
England then host Ireland and Wales before finishing with a trip to Rome on 14th March as they face the Italians.
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