Brendan Cook is celebrating a double England call-up and relishing the chance to tackle Scotland in his first international honour.

Answering the call - Brendan Cook has been handed a double selection for England Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

Cook, from Sutton Park Avenue, Colchester, has been selected for the 18-man rugby league England Lionhearts squad for the amateur home international series, and has also got into the England Students squad to play the French in Toulouse.

The 20-year-old Ipswich Rhino's player recently impressed when playing for a side representing the Rugby League Conference eastern division against other regions in the country.

The eastern team narrowly lost their first match to eventual winners Yorkshire, but then won the runners-up Plate competition - with Cook catching the selector's eye along the way.

The loose forward said: "I was really pleased about my performance. The selector had been watching all the games and he did see me at my best.

"It was really pleasing just to hear my name being called out because they picked the squad afterwards."

The Lionhearts play Scotland in Glasgow on Sunday but Cook will be unavailable for the next encounter, with Ireland, as he will be with the England Students' squad.

Published Friday June 11, 2004