Kennedy praises Exiles' coaches

Kennedy says he was not expecting a senior squad call-up(Getty)

London Irish lock Nick Kennedy has paid tribute to the Exiles academy after being included in the England squad.

Kennedy is one of four London Irish players in the 32-man squad for next month's tour of New Zealand.

He told BBC Radio Berkshire his selection showed the London Irish academy was working well.

He said: "I've known David Paice and Topsy for five years now and it's been great to watch them come through and now hopefully get full caps."

"I feel a bit for Paul Hodgson who has been a bit hard done by as he's had a great season and is a fantastic player.

"When he got capped in the Six Nations he perhaps didn't have a chance to show what he could do. I'm sure he'll be back and getting more caps soon.

"It just goes to show what great coaches we have here, with Brian Smith and Toby Booth and the conditioners, Allen Ryan and Tony Stanger."

Despite being widely tipped for inclusion in the squad, Kennedy said it was a surprise to make it into Martin Johnson's first squad.

"I thought after I'd played for the Saxons during the Six Nations I'd done quite well, so I was expecting to be in the Saxons again, so it's an amazing bonus to be in the full squad.

"I've been working very hard at certain aspects of my game, really concentrating on elements that I wouldn't have in the past and hopefully that's been noticed by the England set-up.

"I've been watching him for years and years and I have a lot of respect for him. It makes it that bit sweeter to be named in his first squad."

Kennedy denied the inclusion of four London Irish players in the squad was as a result of their Heineken Cup run, which took them to the semi-finals.

"The Toulouse game was very high profile, but I'd like to think it's a combination of the last couple of years of hard work.

"London Irish have been playing good rugby for a while now. Hopefully we're being recognised as a good team now rather than an occasionally good team."