Eight Warriors selected for England Knights
- Eight Warriors selected for England Knights Performance Squad.
- New selections include Matty Nicholson and Brad O’Neill.
- Knights will face off in international competition later this year.
England Knights Head coach Paul Anderson has named a 27-strong Performance Squad (KPS) to prepare for international competition later this year, with eight Warriors selected.
Players from nine Betfred Super League clubs are represented, with eight of them included in the Knights set up for the first time.
Sam Halsall, Ethan Havard, James McDonnell, Matty Nicolson, Brad O’Neill, Oliver Partington, Harry Smith and Morgan Smithies have all been named.
England Knights Head Coach, Paul Anderson, said: “Most of these players have come through the England Pathways programme, which is all about investing in the future of England Rugby League. Our job is to prepare our future full internationals for the next step – the senior international team.
“The Knights is about developing talent, preparing well and competing hard. With that in mind, we want as many as possible to come through our talent pathway and force themselves in contention for England selections, and ultimately win world cups.”
Discussions around Knights fixtures ahead of the Rugby League World Cup are underway, and Knights players will have three ‘off feet’ meetings this summer (May, July, August) where England performance standards will be discussed.
England Knights squad (* denotes new selection)
Matt Ashton (Warrington Wolves), Jon Bennison* (St Helens), Jack Broadbent (Leeds Rhinos), Jack Brown* (Hull FC), Matt English (Huddersfield Giants), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Sam Halsall, Ethan Havard (both Wigan Warriors), Tom Holroyd (Leeds Rhinos), Jordan Lane (Hull FC), Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten* (both Hull KR), Ellis Longstaff (Warrington Wolves), James McDonnell, Matty Nicholson*, Brad O’Neill*, Oliver Partington (all Wigan Warriors), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants), Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies (both Wigan Warriors), Josh Thewlis* (Warrington Wolves), Liam Tindall* (Leeds Rhinos), Jake Trueman (Castleford Tigers), Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), Matt Whitley (Catalans Dragons), Jake Wingfield* (St Helens), Connor Wrench (Warrington Wolves)
*Named for the first time.
