England Counties spread their net for the Irish
Jan
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).
