South Of England Men’s Team announce 32-Man Training Squad

• Players rewarded for performances at 2026 South of England Men’s Carnival
• 14 community clubs across the South represented in Jamie Jones squad
• South of England to face Australia & NZ Exiles, Scotland Bravehearts and Wales ‘A’ across October

The South of England Men’s Team, the representative side for community Rugby League outside the North of England, has announced a 32-man training squad ahead of a trio of tricky fixtures throughout October. The squad will be trimmed to 26 ahead of forthcoming fixtures against Australia & New Zealand Exiles (October 10), Scotland Bravehearts (October 17) and Wales ‘A’ (October 31).

Selected players will assemble at Oxford RFC, North Hinksey, on Sunday 4th October to be put through their paces by Head Coach Jamie Jones and support staff drawn from all four Southern regions – London, the Midlands, the West of England and the East of England.

Players were selected based on performances at the last weekend’s 2026 Southern Regional Carnival, an annual tournament which this year was won for the second time by the Midlands via a thrilling late win over fellow title challengers East of England.

Fittingly, eleven from the Midlands title-winning squad – including forward Harry Kaufman, whose two late tries secured the carnival crown – have earned call-ups for the 2026 South of England Men’s Team squad.

The squad also features seven players from carnival runners-up the East of England, two members of the West of England side, and twelve who represented London. In total, 14 different community clubs from across the South of England are represented in Jones train-on squad.

Those selected include players aiming to win their first cap and experienced stalwarts of the South of England Men’s Team’s 2025 campaign, where the side lost narrowly to Australia & NZ Exiles before notching up a famous win over Wales ‘A’ at the Gnoll, Neath.

South of England Men’s Team Head Coach Jamie Jones said: “We’re excited to announce this year’s extended training squad. Myself and the other selectors were particularly impressed by the talent on show at this year’s Southern Regional Carnival and decided to offer more opportunities for players to come and train and stake their claim for a place in the 26-man squad for the game against Australia & New Zealand Exiles on October 10.

“I am very happy with the blend of players we have selected and can’t wait to see how they perform in training this weekend – not just personally, but also as part of the group. I will be looking closely to see how relationships between players, particularly in the halves, form and develop across the session. 

“Last year we were able to create a tight unit with players from different regions and clubs coming together to represent the South of England and I’ve no doubt it will be the same this year.

“I’m particularly excited about the chances we are offering to exciting young players and those whose performances at the Carnival brought them to the front of our thinking. Combined with the experience of players returning to the squad after impressing last year and we have the makings of a strong team.”

South of England Men’s Team – 2026 Training Squad

Brandon Swindles, Callum Dockerill, Max Nissenen-Le, Liam Schofield (all Bedford Tigers); Leon Atherton, Adam Turner (All Golds); Ben McGuinness, Ben Telfer (Brixton Bulls); Harry Kaufman, Jimmy Lambert (Coventry Bears); Sean Belbin, Jake Cummins, Luke Drummond, Paddy Tennant (Elmbridge Eagles); Leon Bird (Hammersmith Hill Hoists); Will Armour, Doug Chirnside, Charlie Whittington (London Chargers); Matt Massett, Mason O’Neil (Medway Dragons); David Bofenda, Alex Deery (North Herts Crusaders); Coryn Ward (Nottingham Outlaws); Finlay Holt, Jack Jonson (Sherwood Wolf Hunt); Mike Goode (Staffordshire Quantums); Ben Foskett, Andy Prosser, Dylan Stone, Oscar Stone (Telford Raiders); Leighton Ball, Dom Stock (West Warriors).