England U19 coach, Tosh Askew, today announced a 30 man squad to prepare for the U19 Six Nations and the U19 FIRA World Championships to be played in France in April 2003. The squad will be training on December 16th and 17th at Broadstreet, Coventry.
Tosh Askew said "We've selected a squad which has a lot of athletic ball playing ability and I will be expecting them to produce some enterprising rugby during the course of a demanding schedule at the turn of the year.
"I was pleased with our performances against Wales, Ireland and France last year when we restricted the opposition to a total of just three points in the three games. However, the FIRA U19 World Championships underlined to us that we must aim to move up the rankings from our current position of sixth, which we've held for the last two years.
"Each member of the squad has the opportunity to develop through the training and match programme and they can look at the examples set by a number of the players last year for inspiration. Marcel Garvey(Gloucester) has trained with the senior squad, Ben Russell of Saracens, who along with Magnus Lund (Sharks) had a very good Sevens tournament in Dubai at the weekend and Clive Stuart-Smith, who captained the side last year and has had Zurich Premiership starts for Gloucester."
"The U19 squad will be trimmed down to 26 when we meet again in January and I expect the training sessions next week to be very competitive."
ENGLAND U19 SQUAD
FORWARDS
William Bowley Worcester
Andrew Buist Newcastle Falcons
Iyran Clunis London Irish
Chris Cracknell NEC Harlequins
Aston Croall Saracens
James Greenwood London Irish
Matthew Hampson Leciester Tigers
James Haskell London Wasps & Cheltenham College
Mark Hopley Worcester
Gary Johnson London Irish
Thomas Rees London Wasps & RGS High Wycombe
Thomas Ryder Leicester Tigers & Uppingham
William Skinner Leicester Tigers
Tom Spencer Saracens
Wayne Thompson Bristol Shoguns
Richard Thorpe London Irish & Whitgift
David Wilson Newcastle Falcons
BACKS
Joseph Bedford Sharks
Ross Broadfoot London Irish & Whitgift
Michael Burgess Sharks
Paul Diggin Northampton Saints
Thom Evans Wellington College
Thomas Gregory Leicester Tigers & Oakham
Nathan Jones Leicester Tigers
Oliver Morgan Gloucester & Millfield
Topsy Ojo London Irish & Dartford
Thomas Rock Leeds Tykes
Benjamin Russell Northampton Saints
James Wellwood London Wasps
Simon Whatling Bath
England U19 fixtures:
31st January 2003 V Scotland Melrose
14th February 2003 V France Broadstreet
21st February 2003 V Wales Llanelli
7th March 2003 V Italy Macclesfield
28th March 2003 V Ireland Cork
10th-20th April 2003 FIRA World Cup France
England U19 Coaching Team 2002/03
Tosh Askew Coach/Manager
Ian Smith Coach
Phil Duffell Physio
Tim Walker Doctor
Mike Marchant Kit and equipment manager
Mike Glogg Admin