Former Pocklington RUFC hooker set for England debut (From York Press)

Former Pocklington RUFC hooker set for England Six Nations debut

10:03am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Sport By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

YORK-born Rob Webber is set to make his England debut in the Six Nations opener against Scotland tomorrow.

The 25-year-old, a former Pocklington RUFC and Pocklington School hooker, is among the replacements as interim coach Stuart Lancaster fields a much changed side from the team that failed in last year’s World Cup.

The call-up marks the culmination of a big week for Webber, who earlier announced he was to leave Wasps after six years and 107 appearances to join Premiership rivals Bath next season.

Webber, who joined Wasps from Leeds Tykes in 2005, has regularly captained the Adams Park side and said it was a very “tough” decision to move on.

“I arrived down to London from Leeds as a teenager and in my time here I have learned a lot about both rugby and life, and the friends I have made I would consider to be friends for life,” he said. “I will continue to give my all for the rest of the season and I know I will always be a fan of the club no matter where I go next.”

Webber will back up Dylan Hartley at Murrayfield and, should he get on the field, will become the first East Yorkshire player to represent England since Goole-born Jamie Noon won the last of his 38 caps in 2008.

Lancaster’s line-up sees three uncapped players start as centres Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell, along with number eight Phil Dowson, get a taste of international rugby for the first time.

“We have been impressed with how the whole group has come together in the last ten days,” Lancaster said. “Now is the time to turn all that into a performance against Scotland that we can all be proud of. It is a massive challenge – Murrayfield, the first game of the Six Nations – but one we are relishing.”

A couple of hours before Webber is lining up at Murrayfield, his elder brother, Mat, will lead an unchanged Pocklington side at Scarborough in Yorkshire One.

Charlie Rook, the Londesborough Park cricket captain, retains his place on the bench after making his debut as replacement scrum half last week.

When the sides met earlier in the season at Feathers Field, Pock edged a close game 19-14.