The England Counties XV selectors have been faithful to their brief of being the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Guinness Premiership by naming a squad drawn from 15 different clubs and 13 counties for their three-match tour to Korea and Japan which leaves on Sunday (May 31).

A party of 26 players will include 14 who will be making their Counties XV debuts during the trip. Only one player, Manchester and Cheshire lock forward Matt Owen, was in the starting line-up for the final game of the previous tour in Canada a year ago.

Of greater concern to Manager Danny Hodgson, perhaps, is that 10 of his squad will be in action at Twickenham on Saturday (May 30) in the finals of the County Championship Bill Beaumont Cup and the County Championship Shield, with Gloucestershire facing Lancashire in the former and Cheshire taking on Hertfordshire in the latter.

While selection has inevitably been influenced by clubs prioritising close-season training, Hodgson is very happy with the composition of his squad.

"I think the squad looks absolutely superb," he said: "We've got a very good blend, with a good contingent of youngsters and a nice balance in terms of experience with the Counties. I like the look of the front five and that will give us a solid base and the back-row looks good.

"Mark Woodrow at No 10 did really well for us in Russia and will be a good influence, while Tom Eaton has obviously had a fine season in leading Cheshire to the Shield final and gives us real strength in a key position.

"Chris Bishay at full-back, who has had eight starts for London Wasps this season, is another exciting prospect, while Lancashire's Nick Royle has had two hat tricks in three county games so far this season and is one of the fastest wingmen in the country.

"As always when we name a Counties XV squad and prepare to visit another new destination, the excitement is intense. Korea and Japan expand our horizons in a fresh and thrilling direction and we're looking forward to making new friends and learning something about the culture of these countries.

"We will be doing some outreach work in both countries and helping to spread the Rugby word to youngsters who are not familiar with the game. That's always very enjoyable and the lads who went out during our trip to Canada really did a good job.

"So now all we have to do is keep our fingers tightly crossed that everyone comes through Saturday's games at Twickenham without injury."

Backs: Chris Bishay (unattached & Middlesex), Gareth Collins (Leicester Lions & Warwickshire), Nick Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), James Aston (unattached & North Midlands), Jack Harrison (Tynedale & Northumberland), Patrick Leach (Manchester & Cheshire), Kyle Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), Steve Parsons (Otley & Yorkshire), Mark Woodrow (Birmingham & Solihull & Gloucestershire), Tom Eaton (Manchester & Cheshire), Tom Richardson (Stourbridge & Berkshire), Huw Thomas (Nuneaton & Warwickshire).

Forwards: Chris Rowland (Clifton & Somerset), Rob O'Donnell (Sale & Lancashire), Joe Graham (Tynedale & Cumbria), Owen Hamley (Redruth & Cornwall), Matthew Long (Birmingham & Solihull & Gloucestershire), Peter Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), Paul Ralph (Manchester & Cheshire), Mike Howard (Bedford & Eastern Counties), Eni Gesinde (Tynedale & Northumberland), Chris Rainbow (Hertford & Hertfordshire), Wayne Sprangle (Plymouth Albion & Somerset), Sebastian Moss (Manchester & Lancashire), Jason Smithson (Blaydon & Northumberland).