Callard: Quins' Hopper deserves Saxons chance (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Callard: Quins' Hopper deserves Saxons chance

11:19am Monday 23rd January 2012 in Harlequins

Harlequins centre Matt Hopper continues his remarkable rise after being called into the England Saxons squad training to face the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds in Exeter on.

Centre Hopper, who was born in the city, is one of five new players named in the 25-man group alongside London Irish scrum half Paul Hodgson, Gloucester prop Rupert Harden, Leicester lock Ed Slater and Sale flanker Kearnan Myall.

Hodgson and Harden are temporary injury replacements for Quins number nine Karl Dickson and Sale's Henry Thomas).

Hopper, Slater and Myall step up in place of Gloucester's Henry Trinder, Leicester's Geoff Parling and Bathh's Dave Attwood, who have joined the senior squad training in Leeds this week.

Hopper’s call-up comes after just 11 first-team games for Harlequins following spells in the RFU Championship at Plymouth Albion and Cornish Pirates. He returns to Devon where he learned the game at Exeter Chiefs before playing for local junior club Wessex.

“He’s done well every time I’ve seen him and really deserves his chance,” said England Saxons coach Jon Callard.

Slater and Harden make their first appearances at this level, Myall returns after first featuring for the Saxons in the 2010 Churchill Cup and experienced scrum half Hodgson, who won the last of his nine England caps two years ago.

Saxons coaches Callard and Simon Hardy have an experienced contingent of backs, including British & Irish Lion Ugo Monye and World Cup squad members Matt Banahan, Delon Armitage as well as the likes of in-form Gloucester duo Freddie Burns and Jonny May.

Up front Harden, 25, Myall, 25, and Slater, 23, join a group of forwards with an average age of 24 years nine months.

“This squad has got a great deal of longevity,” said Callard.

“They’ve all got something to offer to the national team, whether they’re coming down from the senior squad, or they’ve been injured, or if they’re young players going up.

"Everyone’s got a contribution to make and it’s all about the future.”