England Students team manager Peter Drewett has named a squad of 26 players – including Worcester Warriors Academy wing Sam Miler – from which the team to face France Universities at Richmond FC on Friday, February 25 will be selected.
Academy prospect Miller recently featured for Warriors in the British & Irish Cup campaign and is studying at Bath University.
The fixture is the first of England Students’ three matches this season. They will face the Portugal national side in Lisbon before a re-match with the French in Versailles, both in March. France won last year’s meeting with England Students 35-22 in Riom.
“We have a good squad of players, many of whom will go on to play a high standard of club rugby,” said Drewett, who has taken the reins again, having previously coached or managed England’s Under 21s, U19s and Students.
“Historically the French have taken student rugby very seriously. They have compared the universities’ side to their A team.
“We have a mix of players who have met the French before and are determined to turn the tables, plus up and coming players who can’t wait to get out on the pitch.
“I’m grateful to the previous Students’ manager, Keith Green, for making it a seamless transition for me and I am looking forward to three good matches against quality opposition that will give the English players a great test and hopefully some fantastic memories.”
The squad was developed through two weekends of trials at Loughborough University in December and January, and the 26 will train at Uppingham School in Rutland – where England Students head coach Paul Westgate is director of sport – on Sunday February 13.
The match with a 7.30pm kick-off at the Athletic Ground on Friday, February 25 should be an entertaining warm-up to the following day’s England v France RBS 6 Nations meeting just up the road at Twickenham Stadium. Tickets are £5 or £10, available on the gate or by calling Richmond FC on 020 8940 0397.
England Students squad for match v France Universities, Athletic Ground, Richmond FC, Friday February 25, k-o 7.30pm: Adam Bellamy – Bristol, Hooker, Richard Boyle – Northumbria, Second row, Fred Burdon – Cambridge, Centre, Alex Cheesman – Oxford, Centre, Richard de Carpentier – UWIC, No.8, George Drake – Loughborough, Fly half, Callum Grant – Reading, Scrum half, Sam Lockwood – Leeds Met, Prop, Mike Macfarlane – Loughborough, No.8, Louis Messer – UWIC, Full back, Sam Miller – Bath, Wing, Tom Mitchell – Bristol, Centre, Mohammed Mustafa – Liverpool, Prop, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo – Loughborough, Prop, Chris Reakes – Exeter, Fly half, Rob Saltrick – Manchester, Flanker, Tom Sargeant – Exeter, Flanker, Will Simpson – Loughborough, Centre, Matt Smith – UWIC, Second row, Jack Steadman – Loughborough, Prop, Ed Styles – Loughborough, Full back, Ed Tellwright – UWIC, Wing, Alex Waddingham – Loughborough, Flanker, William Warden – Loughborough, Second row, Russell Weir – Loughborough, Scrum half, Jack Yeandle – UWIC, Hooker