When England Counties XV flanker Dave Allen decided to try his hand in better company three years ago and join a mate at Blackheath, he could not have imagined that he would be running out at the Rectory Field on Saturday wearing an England shirt, writes Tony Simpson.

The 25-year-old made his debut for the Counties in Dublin a fortnight ago and is part of squad that has been retained en bloc for the visit of France Amateurs to Blackheath on Saturday (March 10, 3pm).

"To be honest, I didn't know much about the Counties set-up when I was invited to join the squad for the game against the Ireland Clubs side," says the ground-worker from Tonbridge. "I certainly never thought of running out at Blackheath wearing an England shirt. I knew one of our guys, Des Brett, was picked last year and I talked to him about it. But, yes, it's been brilliant.

"Dublin was good - a very different experience. It's hard work coming together from a number of clubs and trying to build a team, but I thought the lads did really well to gel as well as they did and play some good rugby at Donnybrook.

"It's a challenge for all of us to fit into a group in such a short space of time, but it's a good test and it makes you think and concentrate.

"Now I've got an England shirt and I'm definitely keeping it, although getting another against France gives me some options. People have been trying to get the first one off me, but we talked about getting the win that would make the shirt special and hopefully we can do that this weekend. Then I can keep that and decide what to do with the other one."

And is he expecting a good following on Saturday?

"I know people at Blackheath have put a lot into staging the game and they're really looking forward to it," says Allen. "They've organised some extras to entertain the kids and that should be good.

"The pitch hasn't been played on for two weeks and it drains very well, so that should be fine."

Allen's arrival in the England Counties jersey has involved lots of people at three clubs in the South East.

"I played all my juniors rugby at Sevenoaks." He recalls. "My dad used to play and he got me involved when I was about six. I played all my mini rugby there and then I also played for Kent at 16s,17s and 18s.

"Then I left Sevenoaks and went to play for Old Juddeans, where my dad used to play. That was a step up for me, although they were at the same level at Sevenoaks firsts.

"Then I left Tonbridge Juddeans, as they had become, and went up to Blackheath. I had a friend who had gone from Juddeans to the Rectory Field and I spoke to him about the club and asked whether I could go up to pre-season with him and give it a try.

"I went up and got involved. Now I'm in my third season and it's brilliant. I won two awards last year - the Blackheath Player of the Season and the Supporters Player of the Season - and this year I've been vice-captain.

"The season hasn't gone too badly. We're fifth at the moment and want to try to finish in the top four, but we've some tough game still to play - Stourbridge, Esher and Launceston in succession."

Before the focus switches back to National Division Two rugby, however, there's an England Counties game to be won, hopefully with a hefty contingent of rugby people who have watched his progress from a 6 to 25 on the sidelines to cheer him on.

England Counties XV: Neil Hallett (Esher & Surrey); Alastair Bressington (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Mark Bedworth (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Mark Sweeney (Launceston & Cornwall); Matt Leek (Esher & Surrey), Graham Barr (Esher & Middlesex); Duncan Cormack (Esher & Surrey) capt, Liam Wordley (Henley & Staffordshire), Wayne Reed (Launceston & Devon), Richard Snowball (Darlington & Yorkshire), James Winterbottom (Henley & Middlesex), Mike Blakeburn (Esher & Surrey), Neil Spence (Bradford & Bingley & Yorkshire), Tom Hayman (Westcombe Park & Notts, Lincs, Derby).

Replacements: Bevon Armitage (Esher), Tristan Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), Craig Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), Dave Allen (Blackheath & Kent), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), James Tideswell (Stourbridge & North Midlands), Tom Doran (Esher & Surrey).