Combined Southern Regional Men's side set for historic fixture against Australia and New Zealand Exiles

• Head Coach Jamie Jones hails his squad’s blend of “experience and youthful enterprise”
• Australia and New Zealand Exiles aiming to spoil the Combined Southern Regions’ big day

The freshly formed Combined Southern Regions men’s representative side will make their competitive bow this Saturday, when they travel to Acton in West London to take on a side of Australian and New Zealand Exiles at Wasps RFC (2pm).

The fixture, the first of two the Combined Southern Regions side will play this October, not only highlights the efforts being made to provide a performance pathway for community players outside of the North of England, but also a rare opportunity for representative honours for those in the grassroots game in the Midlands, South and East.

The Combined Southern Regions side features players from both the RFL Southern Conference League – the highest tier of community rugby league outside the North – and the regional leagues below. Players earned selection at the 2025 Southern Regional Carnival in September, when the East representative side notched up wins over London and the Midlands to become the third winners of the annual competition in recent years.

The Combined Southern Regions squad, who trained together last weekend, will be captained by Midlands skipper Coryn Ward (Nottingham Outlaws) and features representatives of no less than 12 different community clubs – including eight from the East side that recently triumphed at the annual carnival.

With the return of the professional Rugby League Ashes after 22 years later this month, the Combined Southern Regions make their debut against a side made-up of Australian and New Zealand-born community players based in the South of England. National pride will be at stake – as well as an opportunity to “get one over” team-mates and local rivals.

The Exiles squad is packed full of talent, with their coaching team being able to call on high-quality players from 2025 Southern Conference League winners Hammersmith Hill Hoists and local rivals Wests Warriors. While a number of key players miss out due to injury, the Exiles should provide a stiff test for Jamie Jones’ Combined Southern Regions Side.

Jamie Jones, Head Coach of the Combined Southern Regions Men’s Side, said: “It is great to see representative Rugby League back here in the South. As coaches, we feel privileged to lead a great group of players into this game against the Exiles, and the match versus Wales Dragonhearts a week later. I want to congratulate all the players on their selection, which is reward for their hard work across the summer season and commitment to the game in the South.

“As coaches, we feel we have built a squad with a balance of experience and youthful enterprise featuring players from across the region. We really feel the mix is right to challenge the two teams we face, starting on Saturday. I know we will all enjoy the fixtures – the return of representative RL in the South has been a long time coming.”

Chris Watkins, Head Coach of Australia and New Zealand Exiles, said: “We are really excited to be playing against the best players from the southern regions. We managed to get a win against the German Exiles earlier this year and hope to replicate that performance this Saturday.

“No matter the result, this is a great opportunity to showcase rugby league in the south and also give players from various clubs the chance to play with each other rather than against.”

Rugby League fans are encouraged to head to Wasps RFC in Acton on Saturday to cheer on the Combined Southern Regions side as they take their first steps in competitive Rugby League. Entrance is free, with the game kicking off at 2.00pm.

Squad Lists & Team Management

Australia & New Zealand Exiles

Squad: James Duchatel (Hammersmith Hill Hoists), Semisi Ikahihifo (Wests Warriors), Kyle Tucker (Wests Warriors), Tamati Gribble (Wests Warriors), Kane Strachan (Hammersmith Hill Hoists), Jack Ryan (captain, Hammersmith Hill Hoists), Matthew Beasley (Wests Warriors), Keanu Laumatia-Paki (Wests Warriors), Dylan Leney (Wests Warriors), Matt Jessop (Hammersmith Hill Hoists), Ben Russell (Wests Warrirors), Tom Crossle (Hammersmith Hill Hoists), Tyler Rush (Hammersmith Hill Hoists), Will Poching (Wests Warriors), Eric Davidson (All Golds), Chris Kerkow (Eastern Rhinos), Mitchell Cairns-Nelson (Wests Warriors), Todd Peut (London Chargers), Kye Jacobson (Bedford Tigers), Sam Felkin (London Chargers)

Management team: Chris Watkins (Head Coach, Wests Warriors), Chris Williams (Assistant Coach, Wests Warriors), Kimbo Parkinson (Team Manager, Wests Warriors), Mike Chivers (Trainer, London Chargers), Mark O’Sullivan (Physio, Wests Warriors)

Combined Southern Regions

Squad: Callum Whitcombe (vice captain, Brentwood Eels), Louis Baker (Medway Dragons), Dan RoBinson (Telford Radiers), George Jackson (Wests Warriors), David Bofenda (Eastern Rhinos), Liam Fussell (Telford Raiders), Luke Drummond (ElmBridge Eagles), Jack Jonson (Nottingham Outlaws), Doug Chirnside (vice captain, London Chargers), Euan Tiernan (Brentwood Eels), Georgie Treffers (Brentwood Eels), Tyler Johnson-Thomas (Wests Warriors), Coryn Ward (captain, Nottingham Outlaws), George Moore (Medway Dragons), Any Prosser (Oxford Cavaliers), Jake Cummins (Elmbridge Eagles), Tyler Long (Hemel Stags), Dom Aston (Elmbridge Eagles), Ed Brown (Bedford Tigers), Callum Dockrill (North Herts Crusaders). Travelling reserves: Matt Toothill (Brentwood Eels), Will Randall (Eastern Rhinos)

Management team: Jamie Jones (Head Coach – Midlands Hurricanes), Jamie Impey (Assistant Coach – Brentwood Eels), Glenn Tyreman (Assistant Coach – Solent Spitfires), Kevin Rudd (Team Manager – Elmbridge Eagles), Shona Green (Medical – Hammersmith Hill Hoists), Chris Chatten (General Manager, Combined Southern Regions – unattached), Brad Hirons (Social Media – Bedford Tigers), Matt Anniss (Media Manager – unattached)