England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

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josie andrews
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England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by josie andrews »

George Williams misses out after he was not considered match fit having last played a month ago; the squad includes six uncapped players - Tom Davies, Ash Handley, Morgan Knowles, Paul McShane, Mikolaj Oledzki and Joe Philbin

England head coach Shaun Wane has confirmed his 19-player squad for Friday's mid-season fixture against the Combined Nations All Stars at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The squad includes six uncapped players - Tom Davies, Ash Handley, Morgan Knowles, Paul McShane, Mikolaj Oledzki and Joe Philbin.

Knowles and Philbin represented Wales and Ireland respectively in the last World Cup and have now switched their allegiance to England.

Former Canberra Raiders half-back George Williams is not considered match fit, having last played for the Raiders more than four weeks ago.

It means Wane will start the game with Leeds skipper Luke Gale and St Helens stand-off Jonny Lomax as his half-backs, although the versatile Stefan Ratchford is an outside option.

Warrington centre Toby King is ruled out with a knee injury sustained in his side's win over St Helens, while Salford full-back Dan Sarginson misses out after being handed a three-match ban for a high tackle in his team's win at Huddersfield.

Huddersfield three-quarters Jermaine McGillvary, who was a virtual ever-present under previous coach Wayne Bennett, and Jake Wardle are the other players omitted when Wane trimmed his squad to 19.

Loose-forward Joe Westerman is hoping to win his second cap, seven years after making his debut, and his Wakefield team-mate Reece Lyne looks certain to play as the only specialist centre in the 19.

Ratchford, Handley and Wigan second-rower John Bateman appear to be Wane's most likely options for the other centre spot.

Davies and his former Wigan team-mate Sam Tomkins are making the journey from the south of France by car because there are no suitable flights.

The club did not want to risk putting their players on a scheduled flight because of the Covid-19 situation and a private jet, which is their normal method of travel to England, was not an option.

England squad:

John Bateman (Wigan Warriors);

Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie (all Warrington Wolves);
Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons);
Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors);
Luke Gale, Ash Handley (both Leeds Rhinos);
Morgan Knowles (St Helens);
Reece Lyne (Wakefield Trinity);
Jonny Lomax (St Helens);
Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers);
Tommy Makinson (St Helens);
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos);
Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford (both Warrington Wolves);
Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons);
Alex Walmsley (St Helens);
Joe Westerman (Wakefield Trinity).

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... tars-clash
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EDINBURGH-WARRIOR
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by EDINBURGH-WARRIOR »

Just shows what a joke International Rugby League is when players (Knowles and Philbin) can play in a World Cup for one country and then decide they want to play for another country when it suits them it's mental .
Danny ( Braveheart ) Brough situation all over again.

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josie andrews
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by josie andrews »

Sam Tomkins & Tom Davies can’t get a suitable flight from Perpignan so they are driving to Warrington!!

What a bloody joke!
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
nathan_rugby
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by nathan_rugby »

josie andrews wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:59 am Sam Tomkins & Tom Davies can’t get a suitable flight from Perpignan so they are driving to Warrington!!

What a bloody joke!
So?

If it was Wigan players we would be praising their determination.
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Caboosegg
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by Caboosegg »

nathan_rugby wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:12 am
josie andrews wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:59 am Sam Tomkins & Tom Davies can’t get a suitable flight from Perpignan so they are driving to Warrington!!

What a bloody joke!
So?

If it was Wigan players we would be praising their determination.
Having driven from Wigan to perpignan before it is an exhausting drive over 2-3 days depending how long you drive for each day.
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Mike
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by Mike »

24 hours tops if you tag team the driving. No problem for these two.
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josie andrews
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by josie andrews »

nathan_rugby wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:12 am
josie andrews wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:59 am Sam Tomkins & Tom Davies can’t get a suitable flight from Perpignan so they are driving to Warrington!!

What a bloody joke!
So?

If it was Wigan players we would be praising their determination.
I’m not talking about their determination! I mean that that is what they HAVE to do to get here!!

Don’t be so bloody argumentative!
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
josie andrews
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Ex-Wigan Warriors Sam Tomkins & Tom Davies drive from France to play for England

Post by josie andrews »

Coach Shaun Wane has praised the commitment of Sam Tomkins, who took on a 1,000-mile solo car journey from the south of France rather than catch a flight which would have meant having to go into quarantine.

Tomkins' team-mate Tom Davies, who is set to win his first cap on Friday, also drove to England but had the company of his girlfriend.

"They took their time and had rests when they needed to," Wane said. "It's a great effort.

"You look at what Sam has done in his career and to jump in his car and drive here to play for England shows how much it means to him."

Wane has welcomed the selection of England players Jake Connor and Jermaine McGillvary in the Combined Nations All Stars squad for Friday's mid-season game at Warrington.

Wane ignored the claims of Hull full-back Connor, preferring to go with Catalans Dragons' Tomkins for the number one shirt, and he left out Huddersfield winger McGillvary when he trimmed his squad to 19.

Both players have now been picked up by All Stars coach Tim Sheens, who with the blessing of Wane, has also selected Leeds hooker Kruise Leeming, who was also part of his initial plans.

It was already known that Wigan's Australia-born half-back Jackson Hastings, who qualifies for England through his grandmother and played for Great Britain in 2019, would be co-captain of the All Stars.

Wane, who put his England squad through their paces at Salford today, says he liaised with Sheens over the make-up of the All Stars line-up.

"He asked me if it was OK for them to play against us and I said it was fine," Wane said touchside at the end of the training session at the AJ Bell Stadium.

"It gives me another chance to watch them. Jermaine is a class player and it gives me another chance in a tough game to see how he goes."

McGillvary is one of five Huddersfield players in the 19-man All Stars squad but there are no representatives from champions St Helens even though they have no game this weekend.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... nd-3282564
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
josie andrews
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by josie andrews »

Absolute load of tosh this game” – how social media has reacted to the England-All Stars fixture

It’s been one of the most talked about games, but the England fixture against the All Stars is hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

With Super League sides already facing troubling times in terms of fielding 17 players, the England-All Nations game on Friday night is set to stretch some clubs to their absolute limits. But, how has social media reacted?

One was confused as to how two English players – Jake Connor and Jermaine McGillvary – were included in the Combined Nations All Stars squad.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/absolute ... mes-40418/
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
josie andrews
Posts: 35575
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
Location: Wigan
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Re: England squad confirmed for Combined Nations All Stars clash

Post by josie andrews »

josie andrews wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:52 pm Absolute load of tosh this game” – how social media has reacted to the England-All Stars fixture

It’s been one of the most talked about games, but the England fixture against the All Stars is hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

With Super League sides already facing troubling times in terms of fielding 17 players, the England-All Nations game on Friday night is set to stretch some clubs to their absolute limits. But, how has social media reacted?

One was confused as to how two English players – Jake Connor and Jermaine McGillvary – were included in the Combined Nations All Stars squad.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/absolute ... mes-40418/
Some good comments about this topic.
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
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