Post by Phil on May 22, 2018 15:39:12 GMT
England Counties Team Manager Matt Long has confirmed the squad of 29 players to travel to Romania for the team’s three-match tour.
The side, made up of players from level three and below, travel to Romania next week ahead of their warm up match against CSM Bucharest on 1 June.
That match will be followed by two fixtures on 5 and 8 June against Romania U23s and Romania A respectively.
The team will be hoping to continue where they left off last season having finished their tour of Spain unbeaten.
The players selected represent a range of clubs and counties from across the country. As well as their fixtures, England Counties will be undertaking outreach work in Bucharest to help grow the game in Romania.
The team announcement comes ahead of the Bill Beaumont County Championship finals this Sunday, 27 May.
“We’re incredibly excited about the opportunity to tour Romania,” said Long.
“Representing your country is an unforgettable experience and for many of the players involved on the tour it will be the pinnacle of their rugby careers.
‘’Following up on a previous visit by England Counties in 2015, we are expecting a series of physical games which will test the new England Counties squad’’
England Counties is the flagship team of the community game in England and offers players from National League One and below the opportunity to represent their country.
England Counties squad
* = new cap
Fowards
Joseph Smart* - Cinderford & Gloucestershire
Joe Wrafter* - Moseley &North Midlands
Karl Garside* - Ampthill &Hertfordshire
Cameron Zeiss* - Esher &Surrey
Cameron Leigh* - Esher & Surrey
William Harding* - Esher & Surrey
Daniel Maher* - Sedgley Park & Lancashire
Robert Birtwell - Sedgley Park & Lancashire
Joseph Makin - Hull Ionians & Yorkshire
Edward Pascoe* - Redruth & Cornwall
Andrew Hughes* - Sale FC & Lancashire
Matthew Lane* - Cinderford & Gloucestershire
Joseph Bercis* - Ampthill & East Midlands
Phillip Mills* - Rossendale & Lancashire
Oliver Hodgson* - DMP & Durham
Harry Hone* - Cinderford & Gloucestershire
Backs
Thomas Banks - Bishop Storford & Hertfordshire
Jack Gash* - Rosslyn Park & Surrey
Warren Seals* - DMP & Durham
Lawrence Rayner - Ampthill & East Mids
Daniel Watt* - OA's & Hertfordshire
Thomas Wheatcroft - Hinkley & Leicestershire
Lewis Minikin* - Hull Ionians & Yorkshire
Matthew Hema* - Cambridge & Eastern Counties
Jamie Broadley* - Sheffield Tigers & Yorkshire
Sam Baker - Ampthill & East Midlands
Jake Lloyd* - Blackheath & Kent
Sean Taylor - Hertford & Hertfordshire
Grant Connon* - DMP & Durham
The side, made up of players from level three and below, travel to Romania next week ahead of their warm up match against CSM Bucharest on 1 June.
That match will be followed by two fixtures on 5 and 8 June against Romania U23s and Romania A respectively.
The team will be hoping to continue where they left off last season having finished their tour of Spain unbeaten.
The players selected represent a range of clubs and counties from across the country. As well as their fixtures, England Counties will be undertaking outreach work in Bucharest to help grow the game in Romania.
The team announcement comes ahead of the Bill Beaumont County Championship finals this Sunday, 27 May.
“We’re incredibly excited about the opportunity to tour Romania,” said Long.
“Representing your country is an unforgettable experience and for many of the players involved on the tour it will be the pinnacle of their rugby careers.
‘’Following up on a previous visit by England Counties in 2015, we are expecting a series of physical games which will test the new England Counties squad’’
England Counties is the flagship team of the community game in England and offers players from National League One and below the opportunity to represent their country.
England Counties squad
* = new cap
Fowards
Joseph Smart* - Cinderford & Gloucestershire
Joe Wrafter* - Moseley &North Midlands
Karl Garside* - Ampthill &Hertfordshire
Cameron Zeiss* - Esher &Surrey
Cameron Leigh* - Esher & Surrey
William Harding* - Esher & Surrey
Daniel Maher* - Sedgley Park & Lancashire
Robert Birtwell - Sedgley Park & Lancashire
Joseph Makin - Hull Ionians & Yorkshire
Edward Pascoe* - Redruth & Cornwall
Andrew Hughes* - Sale FC & Lancashire
Matthew Lane* - Cinderford & Gloucestershire
Joseph Bercis* - Ampthill & East Midlands
Phillip Mills* - Rossendale & Lancashire
Oliver Hodgson* - DMP & Durham
Harry Hone* - Cinderford & Gloucestershire
Backs
Thomas Banks - Bishop Storford & Hertfordshire
Jack Gash* - Rosslyn Park & Surrey
Warren Seals* - DMP & Durham
Lawrence Rayner - Ampthill & East Mids
Daniel Watt* - OA's & Hertfordshire
Thomas Wheatcroft - Hinkley & Leicestershire
Lewis Minikin* - Hull Ionians & Yorkshire
Matthew Hema* - Cambridge & Eastern Counties
Jamie Broadley* - Sheffield Tigers & Yorkshire
Sam Baker - Ampthill & East Midlands
Jake Lloyd* - Blackheath & Kent
Sean Taylor - Hertford & Hertfordshire
Grant Connon* - DMP & Durham
