RFU Championship XV
The RFU Championship XV is an invitational rugby union team composed of English qualified players from the second tier competition, the RFU Championship. The team was originally formed for a one–off match against a strong Māori All Blacks team as part of the 2012 end-of-year rugby union tests. However, on 10 September 2014, it was announced that the team will be re-formed for an uncapped match against Canada for the 2014 end-of-year rugby union internationals.[1]
The 2014 fixture will see Martin Haag, head coach of Nottingham, take over from Mike Rayer, Bedford Blues head coach,[2] who led the XV side to a 52–21 loss in the Māori All Blacks fixture. On that occasion, the match was played on 17 November 2012 at Castle Park, as part of the 2012 Māori All Blacks tour of United Kingdom, where the Māori side won two from three matches; 24–32 loss to Leicester Tigers, 52–21 win over RFU Championship XV and finally a 32–19 win over the XV's next opponent Canada.
Squads[]
2014 Squad vs Canada[]
On 10 October, Martin Haag announced the first 21 players that would represent the team against Canada on 2 November.[3]
On 16 October, James Phillips was added to the squad.[4]
On 27 October, Haag added a further 2 players to the team, in Jonny Arr and Max Maidment.[5]
1 It was later announced that Jonny Arr had replaced Ryan Glynn, who withdrew from the squad due to injury.[6]
2 On 31 October, Kieran Hallett was added to the squad to replace Dan Mugford, who was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.[7]
The final team to face Canada was announced on the 31 October.[8]
- Head Coach: Martin Haag
Player | Position | Date of Birth (Age) | Club | Union |
---|---|---|---|---|
Charlie Clare | Hooker | (22) | Bedford Blues | England |
Tom Cruse | Hooker | 30 March 1989 (25) | Rotherham Titans | England |
Lee Imiolek | Prop | 21 September 1990 (24) | Yorkshire Carnegie | England |
Ryan Bower | Prop | 25 February 1991 (23) | Worcester Warriors | England |
Michael Holford | Prop | 11 August 1982 (32) | Nottingham | England |
Prop | 1 August 1991 (23) | London Scottish | England | |
Darren Barry | Lock | 2 February 1990 (24) | Cornish Pirates | England |
James Percival (c) | Lock | 9 November 1983 (30) | Worcester Warriors | England |
James Phillips | Lock | 27 September 1987 (27) | London Scottish | England |
Nick Fenton-Wells | Flanker | 11 August 1986 (28) | Bedford Blues | South Africa |
Marco Mama | Flanker | 27 March 1991 (23) | Bristol | Zimbabwe |
Mark Bright | Number eight | 29 September 1978 (36) | London Scottish | England |
Number eight | 25 April 1988 (26) | Yorkshire Carnegie | England | |
Jonny Arr | Scrum-half | 29 November 1988 (25) | Worcester Warriors | England |
1 | Scrum-half | 27 September 1991 (23) | Jersey | England |
Tom Kessell | Scrum-half | 21 January 1990 (24) | Cornish Pirates | England |
Fly-half | 2 June 1985 (29) | Cornish Pirates | Ireland | |
2 | Fly-half | 9 October 1991 | Nottingham | England |
Fly-half | 13 July 1992 (22) | Plymouth Albion | England | |
Greg King | Centre | 24 April 1988 (26) | Moseley | England |
Will Owen | Centre | 30 March 1995 (19) | Moseley | Wales |
Dougie Flockhart | Wing | 25 November 1984 (30) | Doncaster Knights | Scotland |
Wing | 30 July 1989 (25) | Rotherham Titans | Ireland | |
Wing | 7 October 1991 (23) | London Scottish | England | |
Fullback | 16 December 1990 (21) | Bristol | Ireland |
2012 Squad vs Māori All Blacks[]
show2012 Squad |
---|
Previous matches[]
Māori All Blacks (2012)[]
RFU Championship XV | 21–52 | Māori All Blacks |
---|---|---|
Try: 22' m Crane 78' c Con: Roberts (0/1) 79' (1/1) |
Report | Try: O'Donnell 14' c Baker 28' c Elliot 33' c Renata 53' c Dixon 56' m Wilson 63' c Graham 72' c Willison 75' m Con: Ripia (5/7) 15', 29', 34', 64', 73' Trent Renata (1/1) 54' |
showTeam details |
---|
Coaches[]
- Mike Rayer (2012) - Assisted by Ian Davies
- Martin Haag (2014) - Assisted by Kevin Maggs
Captains[]
- Gavin Cattle (2012)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Sixways to host Championship XV match against Canada Archived 2014-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Harvey, Neale (11 November 2012). "Pirates scrum-half in Championship squad". Independent (Plymouth). p. 58.
- ^ Mantella and Bright Named In Championship XV Squad
- ^ James Phillips Earns Call-Up To Championship XV Squad
- ^ Max Maidment Added To Championship XV squad
- ^ Jersey's Ryan Glynn is withdrawn from Championship XV squad
- ^ Plymouth Albion duo start for Canada against Championship XV
- ^ Championship XV team to face Canada unveiled
- RFU Championship
- England national rugby union team