Combined Southern Regional Men's Team announces train-on squad

Extended squad announced ahead of forthcoming games against Australia & New Zealand Exiles and Wales Lionhearts, with 13 clubs from across the Midlands, London, the South-East and the East of England represented...

Head Coach Jamie Jones (Midlands Hurricanes) has announced a strong train-on squad ahead of the freshly formed Combined Southern Region representative side’s forthcoming games.

Selected with the help of his assistant coaches and the Combined Southern Region’s wider management group, the squad contains players from no less than 13 different community clubs scattered across the Midlands, London, the South-East and the East of England. 

Players earned their call-ups thanks to their performances at the annual Southern Regional Carnival, which took place last Sunday (28th September) at Old Brentwoods sports ground in Essex. At the carnival, the East edged out London and the Midlands to become the event’s third different champion in as many years.

12 members of the victorious East side have been awarded with call-ups, including players from Brentwood Eels, Eastern Rhinos, North Herts Crusaders and Bedford Tigers. In addition, there are 11 players from London, and six representatives from the Midlands.

The squad also contains no less than three sets of brothers, with Ryan and Callum Whitcombe (Brentwood Eels/East region), Charlie and Will Randall (Eastern Rhinos/East region) and Ed and Jack Brown (Bedford Tigers, East region) all receiving call-ups.

The selected players will get together to train this weekend, with Jones and his coaching team assessing their options ahead of the South’s games against Australia & New Zealand Exiles (October 11, Wasps RFC, Acton) and Wales Dragonhearts (October 18, Neath RFC). Slimmed-down squads for those games will be announced in due course.

The Combined Southern Region’s Men’s Team is part of an enhanced performance pathway for community rugby league players in the South of England. It offers players from across the Southern Region’s the opportunity to earn representative honours while showcasing their talents and in time will provide a stronger pathway into the England Community Lions side – the national representative side for players outside of the professional game in the future.

Stephen Guan, South of England Development Officer at the Rugby Football League, said: “‘Having a Combined Southern Regions squad following the regional carnival provides our players an accessible progression opportunity, creates a pinnacle for those selected and adds value to the carnival and the entire programme. It has given our best players a further opportunity to extend their season, develop their game, be recognised and the best chance to progress further on the player pathway.. 

“The extended programme will showcase the ability and level of players across the South and be a perfect way to recognise players and to round off our men’s playing season. 
This development is aligned to the Southern Regions Strategic Framework which includes the focusing of the development of the Men’s, Women’s and Junior Lions programmes and lifting the profile of the sport across the South of the country’’

Kevin Rudd, South of England Men’s Team Manager, said: “It has been fantastic to re-energise a representative men’s structure for the region. It is a great start and foundation from which to build on. The community clubs, players, coaches and volunteers have all embraced the challenge and importance of creating a squad to represent our wider region, both on and off the field. 

“18 community clubs had players represented in the regional carnival, with 13 community clubs having players selected within the train on squad for the South of England representative team. We are hopeful that a ‘West’ team will also return next year, which creates Rugby League representative pathways for players and management groups of all community clubs based in the South of England.”

 

South of England Men’s Team – 2025 Train-On Squad

(Club and regional affiliations in brackets)

Dom Aston (Elmbridge Eagles, London)

Louis Baker (Medway Dragons, London)

David Bofenda (Eastern Rhinos, East)

Ed Brown (Bedford Tigers, East)

Jack Brown (Bedford Tigers, East)

Doug Chirnside (London Chargers, London)

Jake Cummins (Elmbridge Eagles, London)

Adam Dady (Medway Dragons, London)

Callum Dockerill (North Herts Crusaders, East)

Luke Drummond (Elmbridge Eagles, London)

Liam Fussel (Telford Raiders, Midlands)

George Jackson (West Warriors, London)

Jack Jonson (Nottingham Outlaws, Midlands)

Tyler Johnson-Thomas (West Warriors, London)

Oz Kerwin (Coventry Bears, Midlands)

Tyler Long (Hemel Stags, London)

George Moore (Medway Dragons, London)

Mason O Neil (Medway Dragons, London)

Andy Prosser (Oxford Cavaliers, Midlands)

Charlie Randall (Eastern Rhinos, East)

Will Randall (Eastern Rhinos, East)

Dan Robinson (Telford Raiders, Midlands)

Euan Tiernan (Brentwood Eels, East)

Matt Toothill (Brentwood Eels, East)

Georgie Treffers (Brentwood Eels, East)

Coryn Ward (Nottingham Outlaws, Midlands)

Callum Whitcombe (Brentwood Eels, East)

Ryan Whitcombe (Brentwood Eels, East)

Rob Williams (Eastern Rhinos, East)

 

Story by Matt Anniss (Combined Southern Regions Media Manager)