Oxfordshire's Nick Rae-Welsh has been called up by England for an international tournament in the United States next month.

The 29-year-old Headington star is to play in the Michael Ashton-Phillips ‘MAP’ International Lawn Bowls Challenge in Southern California from October 11-17.

Rae-Welsh, who has been chosen with Surrey’s Ian Honnor, will battle it out in the singles and pairs competitions against top players from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the United States at the Newport Harbor and Laguna Beach clubs.

It’s the only World Bowls International Federation-sanctioned event which directly invites top players to the United States.

Rae-Welsh, who didn’t take the game up until 2001, said: “It is amazing really because it is probably the biggest honour you can have in bowls to play for your country and I have achieved it in such a short space of time. I just hope I can do a good job now.”

He admitted the call-up took him by surprise, having missed out on selection for England following trials at Norgren BC, Shipston on Stour, back in May.

He said: “I was really happy with the way I played in the trials, but I missed out on a place and after that I never thought they would ask me if I would like to go to America.

“So it was a welcome surprise when the email came through. I am really looking forward to it. It will be a great experience.”

The tournament was set up to honour top American bowler Michael Ashton-Phillips, who died in January 2003 from brain cancer.