Clark will captain the Saxons on his debut © Getty Images

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Calum Clark has been named as captain for England Saxons ahead of their clash with the Ireland Wolfhounds at Gloucester on Saturday.

The Northampton Saints flanker has been handed the captaincy for his first Saxons appearance, leading a side with an average age of 24 out at Kingsholm. There are six other Saxons debutants in the starting XV - Anthony Watson, Sam Hill, Alex Waller, Charlie Matthews, Luke Wallace and Dave Ewers.

Watson joins the Saxons as a late replacement after being temporarily released from Stuart Lancaster's Six Nations squad to cover for injured Bath team-mate Semesa Rokoduguni. Freddie Burns, Joe Simpson and Charlie Sharples bring the only international experience to the starting line-up, with eight England caps between them.

Calum Clark has been a positive influence from the moment he arrived in camp, he commands the respect of the group and I'm sure he will lead from the front," said Joe Lydon, RFU Head of International Player Development.

"Freddie Burns has also made an outstanding contribution in the time he's been with us and he will be vice-captain at Kingsholm."

England Saxons: Elliot Daly (London Wasps); Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Matt Hopper (Harlequins), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby); Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby) Joe Simpson (London Wasps); Alex Waller (Northampton Saints), Jamie George (Saracens), Tom Mercey (Northampton Saints), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), George Kruis (Saracens) Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Luke Wallace (Harlequins), Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)

Replacements: Dave Ward (Harlequins), Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby),Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons),Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby), Sam Dickinson (Northampton Saints), Dave Lewis (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Rob Miller (Sale Sharks)