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England Counties have named 27 players take part in a three-match tour to Canada starting this weekend. The team is a select team chosen from the third tier of English rugby, one level below the Greene King IPA Championship. While the majority are not fully professional players, there are some included with professional experience.
The team is captained by Keith Laughlin, an engineer by day and loose forward for Blaydon by night. Former Bedford Blues prop Dan Seal is joined by former Ulster hooker Matt Miles in the front row, as well as Tom Cowan-Dickie, previously of Exeter and brother of current England hooker Luke. Locks Ian Kench and Dan Williams have suited up for Sale Sharks and Colomiers, respectively.
Blackheath scrumhalf Jack Walsh is dual-registered with Wasps and has England 7s experience, and big centre Seb Rodwell represented Italy on numerous occasions at u20 level. Coventry fullback James Stokes spent time in Australia with Norths in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition.
Counties return to Canada six years after a tour in 2010 that saw them play defeat the Atlantic Rock 20-6, Ontario Blues 32-26, and BC Bears 46-7. They will face three of Canada’s Canadian Rugby Championship regional sides. The first is against the Bears in Vancouver on Friday, June 3, followed by games against the Wolf Pack in Calgary on June 7 and the Blues in Toronto on June 11.
FORWARDS
Trevor Davison (Blaydon), Elliot Millar-Mills (Macclesfield), Dan Seal (Cambridge), Craig Williams (Redruth), Matt Cornish (Wild Geese), Tom Cowan-Dickie (Redruth), Matt Miles (Old Albanians), Rob Conquest (Darlington Mowden Park), Ian Kench (Esher), Dan Williams (Torquay), Harry Bate (Old Albanians), Harry Broadbent (Rosslyn Park), David Fairbrother (Fylde), Keith Laughlin (capt., Blaydon), Ryan Parkinson (Macclesfield)
BACKS
Tom Banks (Bishop’s Stortford), Jack Walsh (Blackheath), Freddie Gabbitass (Blackheath), Joseph Tarrant (Ampthill), Albert Portsmouth (Cambridge), Seb Rodwell (Wild Geese), Sam Winter (Bishop’s Stortford), Nigel Baker (Cinderford), Leo Fielding (Blackheath), Chris May (Old Albanians), James Stokes (Coventry), Mike Wilcox (Cinderford)
Manager – Matt Long
Assistant Manager – Simon Legg
Head Coach – James Shanahan
Forwards Coach – Chris Wilkins
