FORMER Wilmslow High School rugby star Sam James is looking forward to "working with some great players" after gaining a debut call-up for England this week.

Form centre James is one of four Sale Sharks players to have been named in the England squad for the two-Test tour of Argentina in June.

The 22-year-old said: “ I am delighted to be named in the squad and looking forward to the tour.

"There are some great players named in the squad and I am looking forward to working with them.”

James has received praise from Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond on his selection in Eddie Jones' 31-man squad, saying he has been performing every week and fully deserves the opportunity.

The squad, missing those players selected for British & Irish Lions duty, will be captained by Dylan Hartley and will assemble on Sunday, May 29, to begin their preparations for the two-Test tour at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan on Saturday, June 10, and Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez, Sante Fe, on Saturday, June 17.

Jones said: “We have picked the best squad we have available and we are looking forward to going to Argentina and winning 2-0.

“The squad have a great opportunity to represent their country and win for England. There are a few new faces in the set-up so every training session and team meeting will count.

“The Pumas are a physically aggressive side and they have become very good at playing unstructured rugby; we need to make sure we control the structural part of the game and our defence will play an absolutely crucial role.”

Despite a difficult season for Sale, James has built on impressive form of 2015-2016 during the current campaign.

The versatile back, rewarded with a new four-year deal at the club last summer, has featured in both centre shirts and at number 10.

James, a former Manchester Rugby Club senior colt, was joint winner of Sharks’ Young Player of the Season award in what was a breakthrough campaign for him last term.

And he was shortlisted for a similar prize at national level too.

His form was noticed at international level.

During last summer he was selected for the England Saxons tour of South Africa.

James made his Aviva Premiership debut for the club in 2014 against Northampton Saints before really making his mark last season as one of the best young talents in the competition.

He notched seven tries in 24 appearances to help the club to sixth place in the Premiership and secure a spot in the European Champions Cup.