FORMER Devizes and Chippenham junior Simon Whatling has made the first cut for England's U21 Six Nations side.

He and Wootton Bassett junior Mike Baxter were included in the initial training squad of 33 players which met for three days at Bath University last week to prepare for the championships, but Bath scrum-half Baxter was not included in the 26 man squad announced yesterday.

The squad will be cut again to 22 on Tuesday, before the first match against Wales on Friday, February 4. Whatling, now at Worcester, is hopeful of a starting place in the centres.