TWIN brothers Ben and Tom Curry were in the England squad as the Autumn International Series began with a 24-22 defeat at the hands of New Zealand on Saturday.

The former Bishop Heber School pupils from Malpas had previously never been named in the same Red Rose line up but both were picked in the same matchday squad – realising their boyhood dream of playing for England together.

Tom, the younger brother by 90 minutes, made his first start for a year after recovering from a serious hip injury with Ben included among the replacements.

The twins play for Sale Sharks and have long aspired to share the same field for England.

“The day I can’t play for England with Tom I would seriously consider my options because that’s one of the biggest things that motivates me,” Ben said. “I’ve done it myself, by myself, but I want to do it with Tom. You talk about what are your goals for your career and that’s something that’s a goal of mine.”

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Meanwhile Tom has opened up about his career-threatening injury.

The 26 year old Sale flanker missed much of last season with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome – a condition that means the ball in the hip joint is not entirely round – and, as he prepared for surgery, was warned his career could be over.

“It was horrible,” Curry said. “I was lucky because I had my girlfriend Lilla there at the time but I literally just cried. I curled up into a ball. I just couldn’t really process it – it was a surreal moment.”

Curry fought his way back to return in Sale’s Premiership semi-final defeat to Bath, playing a little over 30 minutes in their 31-23 loss at the start of June.

He was then immediately recalled by Steve Borthwick for England’s summer Tests against Japan and New Zealand.

“It meant everything,” he said. “In terms of being able to have that confidence from Steve and the coaches, it was massive.

“I missed a bit of the World Cup at the start, played a bit, missed the Six Nations. I just want to repay him by getting myself fit, staying fit, and playing as well as I can really.”

Tom Curry is one of 17 players on enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts to be selected.

The introduction of the hybrid contracts, which form part of the newly created Men’s Professional Game Partnership announced in September, allows Borthwick to have the final say on all sports science and medical matters relating to the players.