England Knights make three changes from the side that defeated France 18-6 in Bordeaux last weekend, as they prepare to face Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday (Myreside, 1.30pm).
With Owen Trout rested and Jake Wardle joining the senior squad to face Fiji in a Rugby League World Cup warm-up game, in come Jack Broadbent (Featherstone Rovers), George Delaney (St Helens) and Harvie Hill (Wigan Warriors) for a match in which all 18 squad members will enjoy a run out.
Teenage forwards Delaney and Hill, both outstanding products of their respective club development systems, were in the Lancashire squad that swept to a 3-0 victory over Yorkshire in this year’s Academy Origin series. They also made their Super League debuts in 2022, Delaney at Castleford Tigers in April and Hill at Hull KR in August.
Knights assistant coach, Paul Sculthorpe, says: “It’s a great learning curve for George and Harvie, and a massive challenge for all the squad who’ll be up against players who are preparing to play in the World Cup.
“I’ve followed George and Harvie’s progress for a number of years and they've definitely earned the right to be part of the Knights programme. Over 50 senior England internationals have come through this pathway, and they too are potential England players of the future.
“All the players have been outstanding in training and produced a fantastic performance in France. It wasn’t a classic, but it was solid and the whole experience was character-building. We learned a lot from it.”
Saturday’s match will be screened live on The Sportsman YouTube channel from 1.15pm. It will be Scotland’s only warm up match before they begin their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Italy in Newcastle on Sunday 16 October. Tickets for all World Cup matches can be purchased online at rlwc2021.com
England
Jack Broadbent (Featherstone Rovers), Deon Cross (Salford Red Devils), George Delaney (St Helens), Tyler Dupree (Salford Red Devils), Matthew English (Huddersfield Giants), Ethan Havard, Harvie Hill (both Wigan Warriors), Jordan Lane (Hull FC), Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten (both Hull KR), Ellis Longstaff, Matt Nicholson (Warrington Wolves), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants), Oliver Russell (Huddersfield Giants), Josh Thewlis (Warrington Wolves), Liam Tindall (Leeds Rhinos), Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), Matthew Whitley (Catalans Dragons, Capt.)
Scotland
Euan Aitken, Luke Bain, James Bell, Ryan Brierley, Kieran Buchanan, Logan Bayliss-Brow, Lewis Clarke, Davey Dixon, Charlie Emslie, Dale Ferguson, Calum Gahan, Guy Graham, Bailey Hayward, Ben Hellewell, Liam Hood, Kane Linnett, Bayley Liu, Sam Luckly, Matty Russell, Kyle Schneider, Jack Teanby, Shane Toal, Alex Walker, Lachlan Walmsley
