Joe Gray's debut call-up for the England Saxons this weekend gave him the perfect end to a dream first season at Harlequins.

The 22-year-old left Northampton for Quins last summer as he went in search of more game time having been on the peripheral of the Saints team.

It worked wonders as he forced his way into director of rugby Conor O'Shea starting 15 and now finds himself in the squad for the Saxons Churchill Cup game against USA in Northampton tomorrow evening (5pm).

"I am massively happy with the move and the choice I made," he said.

"It has been a good season with Quins, managing to get myself playing a lot of rugby, becoming first choice and then winning the Amlin Cup, beating Munster and Stade Francais on the way.

"to get the call up for this tops it off.

"I had been at Northampton for four years but I needed to get game time so had a look around.

"Quins was a great place for that with a young squad and good rugby and I knew Conor O'Shea already and he sold the club to me with all the youngsters coming through."

Gray is joined in a young Saxons squad, the average age is 23, by fellow Quins Mike Brown, Rory Clegg and Jordan Turner-Hall and the hooker, who was an unused substitute for England against the Barbarians last weekend, is enjoying the occasion.

"I am really looking forward to the game and it is a good group of guys here," he said.

"I knew a few people already from the England U20s and England U18s and of course there are the other Quins lads.

"It is nice having the young squad as we all want to throw the ball about, play a good brand of rugby and score lots of tries and it bodes well for the future of English rugby.

"USA will be using the match as a warm-up for the World Cup no doubt so they will have a strong side out but if we play how we want to play then hopefully we can get the win."

Harlequins prop Joe Marler would have also been in the squad but has been ruled out with concussion suffered in the 38-32 defeat to the Baa-Baas.