Congratulations Young Warriors

[josie andrews]

Wigan Warriors are delighted to announce that 15 of its young players have been named in the England Academy (9) and England Youth (6) squads for 2014.

The Academy players selected are Gabriel Fell, Oliver Gildart, David Thompson, Jake Shorrocks, Joe Bretherton, Nick Gregson, Jake Moore, Macaulay Davies and Luke Waterworth.

The Wigan players in the England Youth squad are Max Dudley, Sam Brady, Jack Wells, Patrick Casey, Craig Mullen and Lewis Heckford.

Congratulations to all the players who will link up in the New Year with their respective squads at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

RFL Press Release

England have named two of their strongest ever Youth and Academy squads for 2014, a year which features internationals against France and Wales and climaxes with a Test series against the Australian High Schools.

The 2014 season will see an increase of players involved with a 36-man training squad selected for the England Academy (under-18s) and a 35-man squad for the Youth (under-16s) squad.

England Youth and Academy Manager Dave Elliott believes the two squads demonstrate the depth and quality of talent that is emerging through the player development pathways at Super League club and RFL Regional Academy levels.

"Putting the two squads together was very tough and that's because there are so many high quality young players coming through the systems," said Elliott.

"These are some of the strongest squads we have ever put together and the competition for places is going to be very fierce, especially for the Academy players who have the carrot of playing, and being tested against, the Australian High Schools.

"That's why we haven't ruled anyone out of selection at this point: there are still opportunities for players in form who are not in the Academy squad to play their way in."

Nine of the players selected in the England Academy and Youth squads are from the RFL's Regional Academies in Cumbria and the North East, a first for the initiative.
"I'm really pleased to see so many players in there from the regional Academies, the boys have all worked really hard and fully deserve their place," said Elliott.

"Their selection is an acknowledgement of the strength of the game in Cumbria and the North East and demonstrates to all the professional and community clubs in both regions that if their players are good enough, they will be in the frame for international selection."

The England Academy squad also includes players from Wigan Warriors who have nine players selected; Leeds Rhinos and St Helens are each represented by five players. Young stars from Huddersfield Giants (three), Hull FC (four), London Broncos (one), Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (one), Warrington Wolves (two) and Widnes Vikings (one) complete the Academy line-up.

The England Youth squad is dominated by Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos, who have six and five players, respectively. Warrington Wolves and St Helens provide five players each, Hull FC and Widnes Vikings both have three players in the squad, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Huddersfield Giants have two players selected and London Broncos have one.

England Academy will again by coached John Winder of Wigan Warriors, assisted by Hull FC's Andy Last, whilst Stuart Barrow remains as coach of England Youth with Shane Eccles of Widnes Vikings as his assistant.

Full details of the 2014 fixtures have yet to be confirmed but England Youth will play a two-match Test series in France at Easter, as well as matches against Wales during the year, whilst the eagerly-anticipated series between England Academy and the Australian High Schools will take place in December.



http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... PXyiylR.99

[HGWarrior]

The England Youth squad is dominated by Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos, who have six and five players, respectively. Warrington Wolves and St Helens provide five players each, Hull FC and Widnes Vikings both have three players in the squad, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Huddersfield Giants have two players selected and London Broncos have one.


http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... PXyiylR.99

The England Youth squad is dominated by Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos, who have six and five players, respectively. Warrington Wolves and St Helens provide five players each.

How is the youth squad dominated by Leeds players but not by Warrington and Saints players as they all have five in the squad??