England Universities Rugby League Head Coach Kevin Deighton has selected his 26-man squad for the 2024 campaign.
Players selected have come through a pathway of regional training and the annual University Rugby League Origin game and will take part in the Presidents Cup, facing GB Police, GB Teachers and UK Armed Forces before the annual Student RL Four Nations against Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Deighton’s squad is one of the most diverse England Universities squads selected in the representative side’s 40th year, which sees 16 institutions represented and half of the squad studying at universities in the south of England, with players at Exeter and St Mary’s rubbing shoulders with Northumbria and Manchester and several points in between.
Deighton’s selections sees Aaron Powell, Delaine Bedward-Gittens, Isaac Coleman, Luke Phoenix, Leon Stewart and Nathan Redmond return to the squad after an unbeaten campaign in 2023, whilst Tyler Hepple who was part of the 2022 team also returns but with 19 players all in line to make England Universities debuts, the squad will have a fresh feel to it.
“We’ve been challenged already during the selection process as we lost the Regional Games” noted Deighton. “But the players have been strong in the face of adversity and the Origin game was an excellent showcase of University Rugby League and the individual talents playing. As ever there were some difficult choices to make but I am sure that we have got the selection right and the 26 selected have earned the right to wear an England shirt and should be very proud.
“The hard work doesn’t stop and the staff and I are very much looking forward to our first camp this weekend and putting everyone through their paces!”
The England squad will undertake a weekend training camp this weekend in Sheffield with further training sessions ahead of each of their President’s Cup games in March, April and May.
A further game is scheduled to be announced once details of the Student RL Four Nations are confirmed, for which a final squad of 20 will be selected from the current 26.
2024 England Universities Squad:
Aaron Harlow-Stephenson (Sunderland)
Aaron Powell (Warwick)
Ben Price (Nottingham)
Ben O'Donnell (Liverpool John Moores)
Charlie Gay (Newcastle)
Delaine Bedward-Gittens (Coventry)
Elliot Shaw (Northumbria)
Euan Parke (St Mary's)
Evan Stephenson (Leeds Beckett)
Femi Sanya (Nottingham Trent)
Fin Hay (Loughborough)
Freddie Ziegler (Nottingham)
Harry Lowery (Northumbria)
Harry Gray (Leeds Beckett)
Henry Davies (Manchester)
Isaac Coleman (York)
Jake Dickinson (Edge Hill)
Leon Stewart (Hull)
Luciano Bejanidze (St Mary's)
Luke Phoenix (Loughborough)
Nathan Redmond (Loughborough)
Noah Tyson (Loughborough)
Sean Baker (Newcastle)
Tom Oldroyd (Loughborough)
Tom Wilkins (Exeter)
Tyler Hepple (Northumbria)
Staff:
Kevin Deighton (Head Coach) Adam Houston (Assistant Coach) James Strudwick (Strength & Conditioning)
Joe Smith (Sports Therapist)
Lucy McIntosh (Sports Therapist) David Butler (Team Manager).
