FORMER Wootton Bassett junior Jonny May will start for England in their Six Nations opener against France on Saturday.

The Gloucester back was this morning been chosen by coach Stuart Lancaster to start on the wing at the Stade de France, in what will be his second appearance for his country having made his debut in Argentina in June.

May will be cheered on by a packed clubhouse at Bassett's Ballards Ash following their home game with Reading Abbey, having come up through the club's youth system.

Bassett vice chairman Jim Brierley said: "“We’ve got a home game on Saturday and after that I should think the clubhouse will be absolutely heaving with everyone watching and cheering him on.

“He’s such an unpredictable player and he always had amazing speed. You gave him the ball and away he went.

“If he gets a bit of space then he will score, so all things are possible.”

May won his first England cap in the 51-26 victory over Argentina in June last year and Brierley feels the 23-year-old’s international career is a tribute to the early training he received at Bassett.

“As far as the club’s concerned it’s another tremendous honour,” said Brierley.

“We’ve had club members who have represented their country at junior level but Jonny is the first one at senior level and that has been fantastic for us.

“He had a huge amount of talent as a youngster and was able to build on the core skills that the club instilled in him.”

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