Hartpury are represented by five of their BUCS Super Rugby Championship winning squad in England Students’ upcoming games against France.
All of Hartpury’s representatives started in the BUCS final that was staged at Twickenham. TRU’s Man of the Match Luke Stratford, Max Clementson, James Forrester, ace fly-half Sam Leeming and flanker Tom Pashley will hope to keep up their success on the tour to France.
England’s Students will be led by Hartpury captain Pashley in a squad that also has BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Year Oliver Robinson from Northumbria University.
Robinson’s Northumbria exited the Super Rugby competition in the quarter-finals, losing out to the University of Bath at Kingston Park. The number 8 will hope to prove himself in the England Students games after the squad arrived in France on Friday.
Robinson will be joined on tour by team-mate George Wacokecoke. The former Bath winger has also represented Newcastle Falcons in A-League meetings since he began studying in the north-east.
Super Rugby runners-up Cardiff Met have two players in the England squad. Centre Luke Northmore and tighthead prop Harry Seward both started Wednesday’s final at Twickenham.
Three Bath players made the squad. The Somerset based trio went out to Cardiff Met in the semi-finals on their home-patch. Will Britton, Jack Edmondson and Will Partington will be joined on tour by coach Aaron James, who is also head coach of the England Students side.
Exeter, who like Bath fell at the semi-finals of the BUCS Super Rugby Championship, have three players selected. Hooker George Gosling is joined by team mates Simon Linsell and openside flanker Felix Maddison.
Two Durham players have been selected for the squad. Centre Ben Stevenson is joined by compatriot Colin Markham, who will offer stern competition in the second row.
Leeds Beckett have kept up their fine tradition of players representing the England Students side. James Elliott represents Newcastle Falcons in their A-League games and Conrad Cade is the starting loosehead prop in the BUCS Super Rugby team of the year.
Nottingham Trent have had two players selected after their debut season in BUCS Super Rugby. Winger David Williams will be raring to go having re-signed with Nottingham Rugby Club to play in the Championship for another season while Tom Cardall joins him on the international stage.
Finally, Charlie Reed is the only squad member to have been picked from a team outside of BUCS Super Rugby. The University of Manchester, Macclesfield Rugby and Sale Sharks player definitely has the talent to flourish on tour.
England take on France this Sunday at Chambéry Rugby Club and the second fixture will be played on April 20th.
Head coach Aaron James told the englandrugby.com: “We’ve selected a very strong side across all positions, and we have a number of options which will give us a good chance of beating France.
“There’s going to be player input into the way we play so we’re going to get together and discuss how we’re going to be culturally and how we’re going to all work together.”
England Students squad:
Max Clementson, James Forrester, Sam Leeming, Tom Pashley, Luke Stratford (All Hartpury), Will Britton, Jack Edmondson, Will Partington (All Bath), George Gosling, Simon Linsell, Felix Maddison (All Exeter), Colin Markham, Ben Stevenson (Both Durham), Luke Northmore, Harry Seward (Both Cardiff Met), Oliver Robinson, George Wacokecoke (Both Northumbria), Conrad Cade, James Elliot (Both Leeds Beckett), Tim Cardall, David Williams (Both Nottingham Trent) and Charlie Reed (Manchester)
