England RU Counties head back to Canada
By RFU Press Release
January 20 2010
The England Counties XV squad will have a three-match summer tour to Canada to provide added incentive when they face Spring internationals against Ireland and France in February and March.
England Counties
The Counties XV, the representative flagship of the County and Community game, will be visiting Canada for the third time after trips their in 2004 and 2008.
They have games against The Rock in St John's, Newfoundland on June 4; Ontario Blues in Toronto on June 8; and British Columbia Bears in Vancouver on June 12.
The Counties have won all three previous games in Canada, but Manager Danny Hodgson is well aware that while the calibre of successive Counties XV teams is growing, so too are the standards in North America, he said
"While our last visit two years ago brought is a couple of fairly straightforward wins over USA teams in New York, we had to produce a real fighting display to come from behind to win against a Canada Select XV in Chatham," he says.
"Canada are working hard in many directions to drive their national game forward and are keen to get all the international exposure they can for their players. As we found in a very rural community like Chatham, the traditional rugby ethos is very much alive, so in addition to providing a competitive, rugby development process for our players, I'm sure they will also enjoy another great touring experience.
"We have always prided ourselves on the fact that our players come back from overseas tours as better players and that will be our aim in Canada. There is every incentive for the lads in the squad for the Ireland and France games to really give it their best shot. This is a serious prize that is really worth striving for.
"As usual, selection for the Spring internationals is made from performances in the National Leagues, whereas involvement in the County Championship remains a pre-requisite to eligibility for our tour squads. This season club games postponed because of the bad weather may impact on County Championship selection, but players on the Canada tour will need to have either played in or made themselves available for County rugby."
England Counties will meet an
Ireland Club XV on Friday, Feb 26 at Stourbridge RFC, k/o 1930.
The squad of 22 for that game will be finalised on Sunday (January 24).
The second Spring game in be against France Amateurs on
Friday, March 19 at Lille Olympique Sporting Club.
England RU Counties head back to Canada
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 20/01/2010 18:55
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England Counties XV spread their net for Irish
Posted by: World Rugby (IP Logged)
Date: 20/01/2010 18:57
England Counties XV spread their net for Irish
Wednesday January 20, 2010
Issued by Tony Simpson
England RU Counties XV selectors have named 12 newcomers in a squad of 21 for the first of their two Spring internationals against an
Ireland Club XV at Stourbridge on February 26, 2010 (7.30).
In keeping with the tradition of spreading their net wide, the Counties XV selectors have drawn players from 11 different clubs as far apart as Tynedale and Redruth, Cambridge and Macclesfield.
The make-up of the squad also underlines the changing nature of Counties XV rugby, the representative flagship of the County and Community game, with only three players - Jack Harrison, Darren Fox and Ben Gerry - surviving from the corresponding game in Dublin 12 months ago and only five - Messrs Harrison, Parsons, Richardson, Graham and Owen - from the squad that toured Korea and Japan last year.
The Counties will be seeking their first win over their Irish counterparts at Stourbridge having lost 20-17 and drawn 13-13 in their two previous meetings.
The full complement of 22 players will be finalised on Sunday after a further check on club games this weekend.
England Counties XV squad:
John Williams (Tynedale), Sam Heard (Redruth), Joe Graham (Tynedale), Ben Gerry (Stourbridge), James Inglis (Esher), Matt Owen (Macclesfield), Ben Harris (Huddersfield), Dan Legge (Cambridge), Darren Fox (Cambridge), Sam Stitcher (Esher), Tom Powell (Cambridge), Tom Richardson (Stourbridge), Luke Baldwin (Blackheath), James Brown (London Scottish), David Howells (London Scottish), Steve Parsons (Harrogate), Seb Jewell (Esher), Matt Riley (Sedgley Park), Jack Harrison (Tynedale), Sam Ulph (Esher), Frankie Neale (London Scottish).
Tony Simpson
Wednesday January 20, 2010
Issued by Tony Simpson
England RU Counties XV selectors have named 12 newcomers in a squad of 21 for the first of their two Spring internationals against an
Ireland Club XV at Stourbridge on February 26, 2010 (7.30).
In keeping with the tradition of spreading their net wide, the Counties XV selectors have drawn players from 11 different clubs as far apart as Tynedale and Redruth, Cambridge and Macclesfield.
The make-up of the squad also underlines the changing nature of Counties XV rugby, the representative flagship of the County and Community game, with only three players - Jack Harrison, Darren Fox and Ben Gerry - surviving from the corresponding game in Dublin 12 months ago and only five - Messrs Harrison, Parsons, Richardson, Graham and Owen - from the squad that toured Korea and Japan last year.
The Counties will be seeking their first win over their Irish counterparts at Stourbridge having lost 20-17 and drawn 13-13 in their two previous meetings.
England Counties XV squad:
John Williams (Tynedale), Sam Heard (Redruth), Joe Graham (Tynedale), Ben Gerry (Stourbridge), James Inglis (Esher), Matt Owen (Macclesfield), Ben Harris (Huddersfield), Dan Legge (Cambridge), Darren Fox (Cambridge), Sam Stitcher (Esher), Tom Powell (Cambridge), Tom Richardson (Stourbridge), Luke Baldwin (Blackheath), James Brown (London Scottish), David Howells (London Scottish), Steve Parsons (Harrogate), Seb Jewell (Esher), Matt Riley (Sedgley Park), Jack Harrison (Tynedale), Sam Ulph (Esher), Frankie Neale (London Scottish).
Tony Simpson
Re: England RU Counties head back to Canada
Posted by: World Rugby (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2010 14:44
Warren completes England RU Counties squad
Sunday January 24, 2010
Issued by Tony Simpson
England RU Counties XV have completed their selection process for their game against the AIB Ireland Club side at Stourbridge on February 26, 2010 (7.30pm) by bringing Esher prop Tom Warren into their match squad of 22.
"I'm very happy with the group of players we've brought together and also the excellent cooperation we've had from the Directors of Rugby involved," said Counties Manager Danny Hodgson: "We meet on Tuesday, February 23 and will train at Stourbridge ahead of the game. The final starting line-up will be chosen after we've been together and at that point we'll also select our captain."
The completed squad for the Ireland Club fixture is:
England Counties XV squad:
John Williams (Tynedale),
Sam Heard (Redruth), Tom Warren (Esher),
Joe Graham (Tynedale),
Ben Gerry (Stourbridge),
James Inglis (Esher),
Matt Owen (Macclesfield),
Ben Harris (Huddersfield),
Dan Legge (Cambridge),
Darren Fox (Cambridge),
Sam Stitcher (Esher),
Tom Powell (Cambridge),
Tom Richardson (Stourbridge),
Luke Baldwin (Blackheath),
James Brown (London Scottish),
David Howells (London Scottish),
Steve Parsons (Harrogate),
Seb Jewell (Esher),
Matt Riley (Sedgley Park),
Jack Harrison (Tynedale),
Sam Ulph (Esher),
Frankie Neale (London Scottish).
Sunday January 24, 2010
Issued by Tony Simpson
England RU Counties XV have completed their selection process for their game against the AIB Ireland Club side at Stourbridge on February 26, 2010 (7.30pm) by bringing Esher prop Tom Warren into their match squad of 22.
"I'm very happy with the group of players we've brought together and also the excellent cooperation we've had from the Directors of Rugby involved," said Counties Manager Danny Hodgson: "We meet on Tuesday, February 23 and will train at Stourbridge ahead of the game. The final starting line-up will be chosen after we've been together and at that point we'll also select our captain."
The completed squad for the Ireland Club fixture is:
England Counties XV squad:
John Williams (Tynedale),
Sam Heard (Redruth), Tom Warren (Esher),
Joe Graham (Tynedale),
Ben Gerry (Stourbridge),
James Inglis (Esher),
Matt Owen (Macclesfield),
Ben Harris (Huddersfield),
Dan Legge (Cambridge),
Darren Fox (Cambridge),
Sam Stitcher (Esher),
Tom Powell (Cambridge),
Tom Richardson (Stourbridge),
Luke Baldwin (Blackheath),
James Brown (London Scottish),
David Howells (London Scottish),
Steve Parsons (Harrogate),
Seb Jewell (Esher),
Matt Riley (Sedgley Park),
Jack Harrison (Tynedale),
Sam Ulph (Esher),
Frankie Neale (London Scottish).