Debutant Billington in England wheelchair squad

Mason Billington played rugby union before his accident

Mason Billington is in line to make his England debut in Saturday's wheelchair rugby league international against France after taking up the sport only eight months ago.

The 29-year-old from Essex, who plays with the London Roosters, broke his back in 2016 and had been playing wheelchair basketball before a new wheelchair rugby league team was established in Brentwood in February.

He is the only uncapped member of a 10-player squad named by coach Tom Coyd for Saturday's game at Robin Park Arena in Wigan (14:30 BST).

Billington, Josh Butler and Jack Heggie are included alongside seven players who won the World Cup in 2022.

Butler, who won the Wheels of Steel as the outstanding player of the Wheelchair Super League season, is one of three members of the Leeds Rhinos team who went through the campaign unbeaten and won the Grand Final last weekend, alongside Nathan Collins and Tom Halliwell, while Heggie joins Wigan team-mate Adam Rigby.

It will be the third time England have faced France since their famous win in the final in Manchester.

France claimed victory in Leeds last November, with England gaining revenge when the sides met in Marseille three weeks later.

Squad: Tom Halliwell (captain), Josh Butler, Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos), Seb Bechara (Catalans Dragons), Mason Billington, Joe Coyd, Lewis King (London Roosters), Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers), Jack Heggie, Adam Rigby (Wigan Warriors)