Great Britain Maccabiah star Matt Franks has been called into Israel's squad for this month's Nations Cup match against Austria in Netanya.

Franks, a prop, will be starting his first match for Israel since facing Cyprus in September 2009.

Israel coach Raanan Penn had wanted to give fellow GB Maccabiah player and Nottingham centre Guy Tyler his first cap, but the youngster is injured.

Penn said: "With our local league wrapped up I have a couple of weeks to get the boys ready and I'm sure we will be in peak form."

Israel, which is in the fifth out of seven groups in European rugby's biggest competition outside the Six Nations, will be well on their way to promotion if they can beat the Austrians.