Toby Flood and Harry Ellis are among 11 Leicester Tigers players on international duty this weekend.

They start together as England half-backs for the first time since Flood’s move to Welford Road during the summer, with Ellis collecting his 25th cap and Flood earning his 24th in his first start of this season’s Six Nations.

Clubmates Julian White and Tom Croft among the England replacements for the clash with Ireland at Croke Park, and Geordan Murphy is named on the Irish bench. Kick-off is at 5.30pm on Saturday. Tigers hooker George Chuter is also with the England squad as cover for Lee Mears and Dylan Hartley. 

Martin Castrogiovanni starts at tighthead prop for Italy as they travel to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday (3pm), and Benjamin Kayser is in one of the France replacements for this evening’s match against Wales in Paris (8pm).

All RBS 6 Nations matches are shown live on BBC TV.

Tigers also have Greig Tonks and Will Hurrell in the England Under-20 side for their match against Ireland today, with club colleague Sam Harrison on the bench.