BEERANDRUGBY.COM

The Nottingham scrum-half - a former Premiership player with London Irish - takes charge of an experienced side facing France at 6pm after the RBS 6 Nations clash between England and Wales.

The sides met twice last season with England winning 10-6 at Blackheath before being beaten 23-6 at La Roche Sur Yon.

Head coach Steve Hill is expecting more stiff opposition from a French side that will be keep to spoil the Students party.

"The captaincy is a great honour for Kevin. He's led a number of teams and plays in an ideal position to take control," said Hill.

"We're expecting France to be strong. It's an honour to play at Twickenham and that's reflected in the extra preparation we've done and in the strength of the French team.

"It should be a close game but if we can match them in the tight we've got the ability to get in behind them and score some tries."

In the squad are Mark Irish (Hartpury), Alistair James (Oxford), Chris Lowrie (Marjons), Wayne Thompson (Bristol) James Whittingham (Oxford) and Chris Wyles (Nottingham), who all featured in the England Students side last season.

Thompson also appeared for England at last summer’s IRB Under-21 World Championship, and prop Rob Faulkner toured Argentina and Chile with England Counties.

And as well as their experience, Hill has enlisted a highly-rated coach in former England full-back Paul Hull to work with the Students three-quarter line.

The Students have three games this season with their Twickenham debut followed by away trips face Italy Under-25 in Sardinia on February 10 and France again in Dunkirk on March 10.

Supporters of Student rugby will be able to watch their side for free, even if they are not going to the main game between England and Wales.

You can watch the game from the West Lower grandstand by collecting a voucher from the ticket office in Twickenham's West Car Park from 5.30pm on Saturday before entering the ground.

England Students (v France, Twickenham, February 4, 6pm)

15 James Lennard (Hartpury)

14 George Dixon (UWIC)

13 Alistair James (Oxford)

12 Thomas Gregory (Nottingham)

11 Tom Tombleson (Oxford)

10 Richard Vasey (Leeds Metropolitan)

9 Kevin Brennan (Oxford, captain)

1 Mark Irish (Hartpury)

2 Andrew Dalgleish (Oxford)

3 Wayne Thompson (Bristol)

4 Richard Graham (Oxford)