YORK'S James Black has a big date at rugby union's Twickenham headquarters tomorrow.

The flying winger is included in Yorkshire squad to tackle East Midlands (12.45pm) in the Under 20s county final.

That match is a curtain raiser to the Yorkshire senior team's attempt to lift the championship against Devon.

Former Pocklington School pupil Black, 19, is at De Montfort University, Leicester, where he taking a business studies and marketing degree.

And off campus he's certainly made his mark with top club Leicester Tigers.

He finished as the leading try-scorer with the Welford Road club's Under 19 side and broke through to the second team - just one step away from playing with established stars like England skipper Martin Johnson, Austin Healey, Will Greenwood, Neil Back, Darren Garforth, Will Greenwood, Tim Stimpson, Graham Rowntree and Martin Corry.

Black, of Scoreby, near Gate Helmsley, first cut his teeth in the 15-a-side game at York Rugby Union Club's mini-rugby sessions run by Nially Barry and John Farbrother at Clifton Park.

His impressive form with Pocklington School saw him selected for Yorkshire Under 17s and after completing his studies at York Sixth Form College had trials with the Bath and Leicester clubs before opting for the latter.

Yorkshire's selectors kept tabs on his progress, which included being called up for England trials, but he was forced to withdraw because of a shin splints injury.

Black is keeping his international options open as he also qualifies to play for Scotland as his late grandfather, Matthew, was born in Glasgow.

Among Black's coaches at Leicester is former England goalkicker Dusty Hare.

Harrogate pair Rhys Morgan and Peter Taylor are both included in the senior team to face Devon (4.30pm), while team-mates Rob Faulkner and Richard Whyley are among the replacements.

The side are captained by Wharfedale hooker John Lawn who has sacrificed a club tour to Washington, USA, to be part of Yorkshire's Twickenham challenge. He is joined in the side by Wharfedale colleagues David Lister and Hedley Verity.

Lawn is expecting an open game and said: "In one sense it's just another pitch, but I'm looking forward to the occasion.

"We don't want to get into a wrestling match with what I'm sure will be a very strong, abrasive pack. I've never been on the Twickenham pitch, but I'm told it's massive and perfect for running rugby.

"We want to get the ball wide and keep their forwards moving all the time. I'm hoping for a red-hot day.

Yorkshire have made only one change from the side which beat Cornwall 46-15 in the semi-final with Otley's Dan Clappison coming in for fly-half Colin Stephens who is on holiday in Mexico.