England Counties name squad for East Africa tour
THE ENGLAND COUNTIES today named their 26-man squad for next month’s three match tour to Uganda and Kenya.
Eleven counties and 15 clubs are represented within the squad which contains 12 debutants.
Rob Baldwin will captain the tour party, having led the side to a 34-16 victory over the Counties’ Irish counterparts, the Ulster Bank International Team, in March. Nine other players featured in the spring international, whilst Jim Wigglesworth steps up after impressing for the England Counties U20s earlier this month.
The England Counties squad is the representative flagship of the county and community game and since being founded in 2002 has visited North and South America, Europe and the Far East. Nine players have previous touring experience but the side will be treading new ground when they head to the African continent.
The squad assembles on the 1st June and the 17-day tour incorporates the largest tour outreach programme ever undertaken. Working with the Tag Rugby Trust, the squad and management will carry out frequent coaching sessions and visits, aiming to raise the profile of rugby and leave a lasting legacy for the host unions.
The squad plays both Uganda and a combined East Africa side in Kampala before taking on the challenge of an East Africa Invitation XV in Nairobi.
Team Manager Michael Old said: “Selection has been particularly tough this year as the quality of players making themselves available for the County Championship continues to improve but we are very pleased with the final line up.
“Squad flexibility was a key consideration particularly in the specialist roles of prop, hooker and scrum half. In the event of injury or illness we will not be able to fly replacements out so it was important to have experience across positions: props Jared Saunders and David Dickinson have played at hooker whilst hooker, Joe Bonner can switch to prop, and Jack Smales, a wing/full back, has played regularly at scrum half.
“I would like to offer my congratulations to the players on their selection and as with all ECXV tours it is hugely exciting to get a new group of players together to see what they can produce on the pitch; I would expect this squad to continue England Counties proud tour record and recent run of victories.
“The Ugandan and Kenyan Rugby Unions are looking forward to the prospect of having an England team on their soil. During a recent visit, we saw the pace, skill and commitment of the countries’ players and they will be highly motivated to perform against us.
“The squad will be faced with playing challenges very different to their club and county games and the unpredictability of the opposition is one of the most exciting elements of touring for both players and coaches. During the recce we also visited some of the schools and orphanages that we are going to be working with, together with the Tag Rugby Trust charity, and I am confident it will be a very rewarding and humbling experience for all involved as we make a positive impact on our East African hosts both on and off the pitch.”
England Counties Squad for Kenya and Uganda:
Forwards
Rob Baldwin*^ (Wharfedale & Yorkshire)
Joe Bonner (Blackheath & Kent)
Richard Boyle^(Newcastle Falcons & Northumberland)
James Cleverly (Blackheath & Kent)
David Dickinson* (Tynedale & Northumberland)
Billy Johnson (Unattached & Hertfordshire)
James Lindfield (Westcombe Park & Kent)
Dave Marwick (Stockport & Cheshire)
Louis McGowan*^ (Sedgley Park & Lancashire)
Ben Pons (Moseley & North Mids)
Gareth Rawlings (Fylde & Lancashire)
Jared Saunders (Saracens & Hertfordshire)
Craig Voisey^ (Moseley & North Mids)
Sam Wilkes* (Cinderford & Gloucestershire)
Backs
Chris Briers*^ (Fylde & Lancashire)
Will Burton (Luctonians & North Mids)
Phil Chesters* (Ealing & Devon)
Steve Hamilton^ (Unattached & Yorkshire)
Peter Hodgkinson*^ (Ealing & Cheshire)
Toby Howley-Berridge (Unattached & Eastern Counties)
Stefan Liebenberg* (Bedford & Hertfordshire)
Harry Peck*^ (Tynedale & Northumberland)
Jack Smales^ (Nevers & Northumberland)
Rory Teague (Cinderford & Gloucestershire)
Tom Wheatcroft* (Ealing & Warwickshire)
Jim Wigglesworth (Hull & Yorkshire)
Denotes
* Represented England Counties in Spring Internationals
^ Represented England Counties on previous tour
Stand by players to be called upon in the event of injury before departure:
Rob Schillachi^ (Hertford & Hertfordshire); Jamie Salter (Launceton & Cornwall); Chris Wearmouth*(Blaydon & Durham); Gavin Jones (Blaydon & Yorkshire); Philip Woodhead* (Wharfedale & Yorkshire); Tyson Lewis (Plymouth & Devon)
Match schedule
Game 1: v Uganda in Kampala - Tuesday 5th June
Game 2: v East Africa in Kampala - Saturday 9th June
Game 3: v East Africa Invitation XV in Nairobi - Saturday 16th June
-------
England Women crowned European Cup champions
England 29 France 25
England Women added theEuropean Cup crown to the Six Nations Grand Slam title they have already won this season with a thrilling 29-25 victory over France in Rovereto, Italy on Saturday night.
An injury time try for Worcester wing Lydia Thompson, who made her England debut just seven days ago in the tournament opener, secured the victory in the dying minutes of the game.
The match, which was billed as the winner takes all clash, was a typical England versus France encounter with both sides fired up and giving everything they had to secure the win and the crown.
But in the end it was England’s tenacity that paid off as they came from a 22-25 deficit to take the title away from France in style.
England Head Coach for this tour Graham Smith, who blooded seven new caps over seven days, said: “This has been a tour of opportunity for all the players involved and I can safely say every single player involved has taken this opportunity with both hands.
“This was a scintillating game, but as a coach a hard game to watch. We certainly controlled the first half but after the restart it was a different matter and France took control when we couldn’t get our consistency going and we did not defend as well. We also gave away too many penalties and France were able to take those points and that put us in a precarious position.
“However, we never gave up and after making some changes from the bench we took our opportunities, with Sally Tuson scoring a late try and then Lydia Thompson touching down for the crucial score in extra time.
“We are obviously delighted to have won the European Cup and defended our title but I am more delighted about the fact that we have underlined what talent we have coming through our system. It has also been great to have Simon Middleton on board as Assistant Coach for this championship. He has made a real impression and we are fortunate to have a coach of his calibre involved in the England set-up.”
England took the European Cup crown the hard way going 3-0 behind in the early stages after French full-back Jessy Tremouliere converted a penalty when England were penalised for holding on.
France and England then battled it out in a typical clash between these two sides, which saw them neck and neck for the next forty minutes. England had their chances, with both Katherine Merchant and Thompson going close but France defended staunchly and kept their fierce rivals out.
In the end France’s line did break when Bristol flanker Marlie Packer made some space before offloading to Thompson, who had both the power and the pace to dive over the try-line. Emily Scarratt added the conversion to hand England a 7-3 lead at the break.
After the restart though, France turned the tables and a 42nd minute try for substitute Elordie Portaries, after a good line-out, catch and drive, saw them take a 7-10 lead.
England try machine Merchant then put England back in control with a 49th minute touchdown, converted by Scarratt, but the lead did not last long as French fly-half Aurelie Bailon kept the scoreboard ticking over with two penalties and two drop goals.
Scarratt clawed a penalty back for England but at 25-17 down, and only five minutes left of full time, France looked like they had done enough to take the title.
However, Bristol centre and substitute Tuson, who had been on the field for just seven minutes, ignited a spark for England which France couldn’t put out however hard they tried. A good drive from a line-out saw the ball recycled out to Merchant and then a waiting Tuson, who on just her third cap, powered over the try-line to score.
Scarratt, however, couldn’t make the conversion leaving England 22-25 adrift but as the clocked counted down in injury time some superb footwork and evasive running saw winger Thompson surge her way 60 metres up-field to score. France did everything they could to tackle Thompson to the ground but with no success and in the end it cost them the victory. With Scarratt this time making the conversion England took a very memorable 29-25 victory.
England
15 Danielle Waterman (Worcester), 14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol), 11 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 10 CeriLarge (Worcester), 9 Georgina Rozario (Lichfield), 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), 3 Laura Keates (Worcester), 4 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6 Sarah Hunter (C) (Lichfield), 7 Marlie Packer (Bristol), 8 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield). Replacements: 16 Emma Croker (Richmond), 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 18 EmilyBraund (Lichfield), 19 Gemma Sharples (Worcester), 20 Fiona Davidson (Richmond), 21 Lauren Cattell (Chesham), 22 SallyTuson (Bristol), 23 Kate Newton (Bristol), 24 Fiona Fletcher (Lichfield), 25 RuthLaybourn (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Tries: Thompson (2), Merchant, Tuson
Conversions: Scarratt (3)
Penalties: Scarratt
Substitutions: Crowley for Clark, Sharples for Packer, Croker for Fleetwood, Tuson for Large (all 70), Braund for Burnfield (81), Davidson for Rozario (86)
England Women’s European Cup Schedule
Spain v England, May 12, WON 61-0.
Italy v England, May 15,WON 32-8
France v England, May 19, WON 29-5
RFU.com 
Search
