Hadden will be afforded a chance to closely assess the players vying for selection to the senior side during the tournament, which is to be staged in England for the first time.

He said: In the absence of any summer tour or away games, the national management team are now available and (forwards coach) George Graham and (defence coach) Alan Tait and I will all be involved.

It seemed to make sense that this year we should take a look at players who may well feature in the World Cup or could be involved in the next World Cup in 2011.

The tournament, which runs from May 19 to June 2, has always previously been staged in North America but has been allocated to England this year for geographical reasons.

With the World Cup taking place in France in the autumn, and the bulk of players likely to be involved in the Churchill Cup already based in Britain, officials opted to select England as the base to reduce the amount of travelling each team would face this year.

Scotland were Churchill Cup runners-up last year in Canada, when Steve Bates team were beaten in the final by New Zealand Maori.