He's used to running rings around his opponents, but former Gravesend and Maidstone rugby player Piers Francis had to run all around the world to get a place in the England starting line up.

While his skills and footwork have never been in doubt, Piers - who grew up in Gravesend and went to St George's Church of England School - was released from Saracens' academy aged 17, having reportedly been deemed too small to make it as a top professional.

But Saracens might now be ruing that mistake - and the Gravesend man, now 26, will step onto the field against Argentina tomorrow having made the England starting line up for the first time.

It's the culmination of an epic journey which began when Piers headed off to New Zealand aged 18 on whim and a prayer, in an effort to hone his skills and kick start his career.

The gamble paid off; his talents were spotted, and spells with Auckland and Waikato led to contracts back in the UK, then back in New Zealand, before he was snapped up by top tier New Zealand side The Blues in 2016.

That would have led Piers to arguably the biggest game of his career last week - a high profile collision with the British and Irish Lions, which surely would have been a mouthwatering chance for him to show his international class - if another offer hadn't come in, leading to another sidestep on the Gravesend man's long run to the international try line.

It was a phone call from England coach Eddie Jones, and the chance to join the England team - who are touring Argentina while the Lions tour New Zealand. And having come off the bench in style last week, setting up two tries to help England to a narrow win, Piers has been selected to start at centre in the second test match on Saturday.

Fans can watch the next steps on Piers' international journey when the game kicks off at 8.15pm (UK time) live on BBC Two.