HOME ground advantage counts for plenty in any sporting contest, but it meant even more to three Wiltshire lads on Saturday.

Fraser Clilverd of Upper Seagry, Chippenham's Sam Alford and Karl Brant of Wootton Bassett returned to Bournemouth's Chapel Gate ground to represent England U18s in their one-point victory over France on Saturday in front of a huge entourage of family and friends.

"It means a huge amount to play for England so close to home, I know so many people in the crowd,. It's great to win the match in front of them," said Brant.

The former Wootton Bassett junior, now a member of Bristol Shoguns development academy, and ex-Chippenham representative Alford both played for Dorset and Wiltshire throughout their junior careers. They impressed south west selectors at Chapel Gate enough to start their journey through south west squads and eventually to an England jersey.

It was a homecoming for Clilverd, who with Alford, is now a member of Bath Rugby Academy but played for Somerset. After running around in the minis for Chippenham he represented Bath juniors at Bournemouth while attending Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.

After being part of a younger England U18 squad which achieved victory over France in the final of the Association Europen de Rugby Festival the previous Saturday, Brant and Clilverd were thrilled to be called up to join Alford in the older U18 team for the international in their native South West .

"There were a lot of the same lads out there. I recognised heaps of them from France," Clilverd said of the dja vu he and Brant experienced at Bournemouth.

"It was tough out there in the forwards, they're a big pack and they really put it to us," he said.

The fact all three started the match was an unexpected bonus, but after the older squad lost 27-18 in Ireland last week, coaches were keen to ring the changes.

Saturday's match ran in a similar vein, with England skipping out to an early lead, before being pummelled in the second half.

The difference on Saturday was the passionate defence late in the game, which Alford said was certainly the key to victory.

"There was no place to hide out there in the second half, it was just a great team effort.

"There were no superstars really, everyone just put in and for the last 20 (minutes), we just tackled our hearts out," he said.

The last fixture for the squad is against Wales this Saturday in Neath, and team manager Keith Gee confirmed all three are among the 22 players who are travelling from Bristol today.

"After being drafted in from the squad which played in the AER festival in France, both Fraser and Karl proved their worth on Saturday," Gee said.

"Karl in particular held the 13 channel together very well.

"Sam also played very well, it's never easy (as a scrum half) when your forward pack is under pressure, but he kept that half back partnership together and acted as a fourth back rower for much of the second half.

"The pressure in the second half from the French was immense, but this is the exposure the lads need.

"It's all very well to run around for school or county, but they're learning what international rugby is all about."

The starting squad for Neath will be named this afternoon.