Conquest was delighted with the call up: “I’m chuffed with news, I think it will be a great experience and obviously it’s great to do it with a team mate in Pete.

“I’d like to especially thank the club with the training and help they have provided me since I joined and I hope I can do the club and supporters proud.”

Homan was equally delighted with the call up: “I’m over the moon with the call up a special thanks must go to the coaches Danny Brown and John Newton for giving me the chance to come back home and play for Mowden Park and that I will be forever grateful for.

“It’s a really big honour and I’m looking forward to it”

Mowden Park head coach John Newton said of the call ups: “The call ups comes on the back of consistent performances throughout the season and it’s well deserved, Pete Homan is a very powerful and quick destructive runner and his work ethic on and off the pitch is outstanding.

“Credit also to Rob Conquest who we’ve seen a massive improvement in his all round play and leading the line out in attack and defence from second row. He’s also turned out to be a prolific try scorer this year.

“The call ups are also great recognition for the club. We wish them well.

“We would like to get more players involved and I firmly believe we could.”

The England Counties squad, made up of players from 13 different clubs, will begin their season on Friday, February 26, against a Scotland Club XV in Galashiels, followed by a home fixture against France Federale on Friday, March 11, at Blackheath. The squad will then travel to Canada in June to play three tour matches.

The England Counties XV is described by the Rugby Football Union as the flagship team of the community game in England, and it offers players from National League One and below the opportunity to represent their country.

England Counties squad:
Forwards: Ollie Mines (Esher), Andy Brown (Coventry), Chris Judge (Plymouth Albion), Trevor Davison (Blaydon), Matt Miles (Old Albanian ), Tom Cowan-Dickie (Redruth), Ian Kench (Esher), Rob Conquest (Darlington Mowden Park), Keith Laughlin (Blaydon), Tom Stradwick (Blackheath), Harry Bate (Old Albanian), Brett Daynes (Cambridge), Chris Davies (Richmond).

Backs: Sam Stuart (Richmond), Jack Walsh (Blackheath), Chris Johnson (Fylde), Chris May (Old Albanian), Sebastian Rodwell (London Irish Wild Geese), Markus Burcham (Blackheath), Leo Fielding (Blackheath), Pete Homan (Darlington Mowden Park), James Stokes (Cambridge), Mike Wilcox (Cinderford).