OXFORD Cheetahs skipper David Howe will lead England for the first time in the indoor ice speedway international against the Rest of the World at Telford on Sunday, February 12.
The 23-year-old, whose sporting hero is England football captain David Beckham, has had to wait 12 months for the chance to skipper his country.
The Leicester-born rider was due to lead England for the first time last February, but was forced to withdraw ahead of the meeting because of a shoulder injury as the host nation crashed to a 44-34 defeat.
Now he is back for his belated fifth appearance in the international after switching again from Wolverhampton to Oxford.
Howe was third in the British Open Championship at Telford four years ago, behind Wayne Broadhurst and Jan Staechmann, and won the Best Pairs Knock out with Graham Jones in 2004.
Three-times British Open champion and former Cheetah Jan Staechmann captains the Rest of the World for the seventh successive year and the tenth time in all as he celebrates his record 15th appearance.
Also in the line-up are Oxford's new boys Adam Skornicki and Adam Pietraszko.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article