Young hospitalised as England name team for first Test

England's NRL superstar winger Dom Young has been hospitalised with an infection and will be closely monitored before the second Test against Tonga after being ruled out of the first.

Young was the glaring omission as both teams named 19-man squads for Sunday’s historic opening Test at Totally Wicked Stadium, with 22-year-old fullback Jack Welsby to captain his country on his home ground and Mate Ma’a Tonga delaying nominating a skipper.

“He’s in hospital with an illness (and) will be assessed next week,” coach Shaun Wane told NRL.com when asked about Young and whether he would be available for the return encounter at John Smiths Stadium next Saturday.

Team doctor Chris Brookes said Sydney Roosters-bound Young had had an infection drained. It’s understood the scorer of 25 tries for Newcastle this year was feeling unwell last weekend and was late into camp as a result.

Wane named 19 players in alphabetical order with Tom Johnstone and Tommy Makinson the wingers. His NRL players are Sydney Roosters’ Victor Radley, Wests Tigers’ John Bateman and Canberra’s Elliott Whitehead.

NRL try time: Dom Young

There are just three survivors from England’s last international, a 64-0 pasting of France in April: fullback Welsby, halfback Harry Smith and hooker Danny Walker.

Welsby said of the captaincy, awarded following the unavailability through suspension of George Williams: “Humbled is the word. When Waney came up and told me this morning I was shocked and surprised with some of the senior blokes we’ve got in that dressing room.”