Paul Anderson, the RFL’s Head of England Pathways, has named his England Academy team to face France at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium this evening (Tuesday 2 July, 7.30pm).
The team will be led by St Helens half-back George Whitby, who is tipped by some to step into Lewis Dodd’s shoes when the Saints scrum-half heads to the NRL in 2025.
Alongside Whitby in the halves will be Hull FC’s Jack Charles, one of several selections who already have Super League experience. They include Warrington Wolves pair Cai Taylor-Wray and Arron Lindop – a try-scorer on home turf against Wigan Warriors in the Wolves’ 18-19 Super League defeat in May.
Also among Anderson’s 17 are two players who have just signed long-term deals with Leeds Rhinos. Loose forward Presley Cassell, who joined the Rhinos this year having previously played at West Bowling and Siddal, has just agreed a new five year contract that will keep him at AMT Headingley until at least the end of the 2028 season, while centre Marcus Qareqare has signed a four-year deal.
Billy Keeley of St Helens has been named as the 18th player in Paul Anderson's side.
Paul Anderson, Head of England Pathways, said:
“I’m really excited about what this group can achieve. In the last few days, we have exposed the players to what an England environment looks and feels like, with the challenge and intensity of short-term representative preparation that they might one day experience at senior international level. Now it’s almost time for us to take high quality practice out onto the field.”
England Academy versus France takes place at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, on Tuesday 2 July, 7.30pm. Admission is £5 (£2 concessions). The match will also be streamed live on the RFL’s YouTube channel from 7.15pm.
England Academy team (including players’ professional and community clubs):
Harry Robertson (St Helens/Halton Hornets), Marcus Qareqare (Leeds Rhinos/Lock Lane), Arron Lindop (Warrington Wolves/Latchford Giants), Ryan Westerman (Hull FC/Beverley Braves), Owen Dagnall (St Helens/Halton Hornets, Capt.), George Whitby (St Helens/Blackbrook), Jack Charles (Hull FC/Beverley Braves), Tom McKinney (Warrington Wolves/Hensingham), William Hutchinson (Hull FC/Skirlaugh), Kian McDermott (Wigan Warriors/Wigan St Patrick’s), Jake Davies (St Helens/Halton Hornets), Lukas Mason (Wigan Warriors/Siddal), Taylor Kerr (Wigan Warriors/Wigan St Jude’s), Cai Taylor-Wray (Warrington Wolves/East Leeds), Archie Sykes (Huddersfield Giants/Greetland Allrounders), Presley Cassell (Leeds Rhinos/West Bowling), Joe Phillips (Leeds Rhinos/Siddal).
Staff (England unless stated):
Coaches: Paul Anderson; Shane Eccles (Wigan Warriors); Rob Nickolay (Castleford Tigers)
PA: Matt Halkier
Performance: Cameron Owen; Sam Wild
Medical: Matt Abbott; Charlie Wilton (Salford Red Devils); Karl Blenkin (Castleford Tigers)
Team manager: James Stephenson
Logistics: Josh Riding ( Doncaster RLFC)
Wellbeing: Steve Hardisty (RL Cares)
Doctor: Dan Tadmor (Leeds Rhinos)
Nutrition: Sarah Chantler
France squad:
Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Baptiste Pourchi (So Avignon XIII), Clement, Martin (FC Lezignan XIII), Lenny Marc (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Yllan Mongay (Villeneuve XIII), Mateo Jimenez-Lopez (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Matis Jammes (XIII Limouxin), Alexis Lis (RC Carpentras XIII du Comtat), Hugo Garrigues (Toulouse Olympique), Felix Aubry (Carcassonne XIII), Rayan Bonte (So Avignon XIII), Anthony Munico (Albi RL XIII), Wassime Mouelhi (So Avignon XIII), Maxime Rostang (So Avignon XIII), Killian Descostes-Buches (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Giovanni Descalzi Ganthier (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Trevor Chiffolleau (Toulouse Olympique), Felix Gautier (St Esteve XIII Catalan), Mikael Lettat (US Entraigues XIII).
