THE last stage of England Universities’ selection process ahead of the 2025 programme will take place on Sunday, when the seventh annual North versus South Origin game takes place at Loughborough (2pm, admission free).
England coach Adam Houston, who steered the side to a 100 percent winning record in 2024, will be on hand to assess the international hopefuls, who have emerged from the regional trials held at Loughborough late last year in which the best of Midlands, North East, North West, South East, South West and Yorkshire paraded their skills.
North’s Craig Banks, together with his assistants Matty Rudd, Adam Cunliffe, Matty Chrimes and Matty Lynn, will pare their 30-man squad back to 20 players ahead of the game, as will the South’s Tom Mitchell, Kevin Rudd and Jay Woodley, particularly in the light of any injuries sustained in the Student League domestic programme.
The train-on squads, announced early in the new year in advance of a fixture in which South are seeking a third successive victory, are:
North: Adam Kirby, Tom Whur (both Salford), Finn Balback, Logan Caroline-Hines, James Evans, Ben Grindley-Roberts, Waldimar Matahwa, Daffyd Morgan, Mackauley Stephenson (all Leeds Beckett), Elliot Martin, Ben O’Donnell (both Liverpool John Moores), Tom Greenleaf, Charlie Yeomans (both Newcastle), Danny Salkeld (Teesside), Deusjes Nzage, Leon Stewart (both Hull), Ed Grogan, Max Hammell (both Leeds), Gabriel Parker (Durham), Harry Kirk (York St John), Jake Dickinson, James Leach, Will Lintin, Harry Lowery, Jacob Rennison, Josh Stephenson (all Northumbria), Isaac Coleman (York), Jayden Crellin (Manchester Met), Joe Brittain (Sheffield Hallam), Nathan Groom (Liverpool).
South: Charlie Penton, Tristan Walters, Archie Whillock (all Swansea), Ben Bell-Thorn, Jacob Butler, Harry Holman, Ben Price, Freddie Ziegler (all Nottingham), Ted Davidson, Harry Gray, Tom Hackett, Jamie O’Keeffe, Dan Perry, Ben Smith, Freddie Smith (all Loughborough), DiMaggio Okyere, Nathan Wyche (both St Mary’s), Jacob Rigby (Nottingham Trent), James Boyles, Tega Rume-Tabiowo, Oli Winterbottom (all Gloucester), Josh Charles-Hatton (Bath), Matteo Tafi (Brunel), Ollie Moody (Hartpury), Stephen Webber (Oxford Brookes), Sydney Butcher (East Anglia), Toby Harrison (Reading), Tom Milton (Oxford), Tristan Aromian (Surrey).
England Universities’ schedule includes, from April to June, the President’s Cup – which was also contested last year by Great Britain Police, Great Britain Teachers and UK Armed Forces, although the Police have opted not to take part this time – and the Student Four Nations Championship.
The Four Nations traditionally also involves Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Ireland and Scotland pulled out last year but have pledged participation this time, League Express understands.