ENGLAND coach Steve McNamara has opted to field his strongest team for tomorrow’s international against France in Avignon, a warm-up match for the Gillette Four Nations Series.

McNamara has included seven players from the Super League Grand Final in his 17-man line-up and makes eight changes to the side that lost 16-12 to the Exiles in the mid-season international.

“We don’t play enough at international level to be able to rest players or leave players out too often,” he said. “This game is a vital part of our preparations.”

McNamara insists the seven players omitted from his 24-man squad remain in contention for the Four Nations but they may need a stroke of good fortune if they are to make the opener against Wales in Leigh on Saturday week.

As expected, there are debuts for Rangi Chase, Jack Reed and Chris Heighington and a recall for rejuvenated Hull centre Kirk Yeaman, who has been in the international wilderness since last playing for Great Britain in the 2007 Test series against New Zealand.

Those left out of the Four Nations squad are Huddersfield centre Leroy Cudjoe, Warrington prop Garreth Carvell, Wigan hooker Mike McIlorum and Leeds’s Grand Final winners Carl Ablett, Ryan Bailey, Ben Jones-Bishop and Danny McGuire.

England's team to play France at Parc des Sports, Avignon, on Friday night is: S Tomkins (Wigan); R Hall (Leeds), J Reed (Brisbane), K Yeaman (Hull), T Briscoe (Hull); K Sinfield (Leeds), R Chase (Castleford); J Peacock (Leeds, capt), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (St Helens), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), B Westwood (Warrington), C Heighington (Wests Tigers). Subs: G Widdop (Melbourne), A Morley (Warrington), J Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), J Wilkin (St Helens).

Co-operative Championship Grand Final winners Featherstone have signed released Widnes centre Tangi Ropati.