SOUTH OF ENGLAND coach Jamie Jones has confirmed his train-on squad ahead of three forthcoming games.
The Oxford Cavaliers boss will take his team, who offer representative Rugby League for players beyond the north of England, to Wests Warriors’ base at Wasps RUFC on Saturday (2.30pm) for a clash with Australia and New Zealand Exiles.
Next up, Scotland Bravehearts will host South of England on Saturday, October 17 and, a fortnight later, Wales Dragonhearts will provide the opposition, at The Gnoll, Neath on Saturday 31.
South of England were edged by Australia and New Zealand Exiles last year, but pipped Wales Dragonhearts in their other fixture.
Jones and his fellow coaches had made their selections following the Southern Regional Carnival at Oxford RUFC eight days ago.
Jones said: “I and the other selectors were particularly impressed by the talent on show at this year’s carnival so decided to offer more opportunities for players to come and train and stake their claim for a place in the squad.
“Twelve months ago we were able to create a tight unit with players from different regions and clubs coming together, 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.
“That, combined with the experience of players returning to the squad after impressing last year, means that we have the makings of a strong team.”
His squad is: Will Armour, Doug Chirnside, Charlie Whittington (all London Chargers), Leon Atherton, Adam Turner (All Golds), Leighton Ball, Dom Stock (Wests Warriors), Sean Belbin, Jake Cummins, Luke Drummond, Paddy Tennant (Elmbridge Eagles), Leon Bird (Hammersmith Hill Hoists), David Bofenda, Alex Deery (North Herts Crusaders), Callum Dockerill, Max Nissenen-Le, Liam Schofield, Brendan Swindles (all Bedford Tigers), Ben Foskett, Andy Prosser, Dylan Stone, Oscar Stone (Telford Raiders), Mike Goode (Staffordshire Quantums), Finlay Holt, Jack Jonson (Sherwood Wolf Hunt), Harry Kaufman, Jimmy Lambert (Coventry Bears), Ben McGuinness, Ben Telfer (Brixton Bulls), Coryn Ward (Nottingham Outlaws).
The carnival involved four teams (West of England returning to the fold after taking part in the competition’s launch four years ago), with the sides meeting each other once in 36-minute contests.
No goal-kicks, in any form, were allowed and the title was decided in the final match, Midlands topping the standings by beating 2025 champions East of England 16-12, courtesy of a couple of late short-range tries by Kaufman.
East, who had never been behind, led 8-0 on ten minutes through Eddie Atherton and Bofenda, with Dockerill securing a 12-8 advantage after Midlands had levelled through touchdowns to Holt and Prosser.
Midlands had drawn 8-8 with London in the first game of the afternoon, recovering from 8-0 adrift with tries for Stone and Kaufman. Ball bagged an early brace for London.
East launched the defence of their title with a 16-4 success over West. Bofenda dotted down twice in the first six minutes and Eddie Atherton nipped over before – after Leon Atherton replied for West – Joe Allison closed the account.
Will Greenslide crossed for West in the second-round fixture with Midlands, who had already posted tries by Prosser and Jonson before cruising home with unanswered efforts from Jake Rigby, Josh Rogerson, Ochema Okereke and Mike Holmes.
East, meanwhile, edged London 12-8 through tries by Deery, Bofenda and Goode before London threatened with a late Jon Armour touchdown.
London beat West 20-4 in the final round, going 16-0 up with tries by McGuinness, Ben Telfer, Tennant and Ball before (after Turner had replied for West) sealing victory when Whittington powered over.
The players of the tournament were Kaufman (Midlands), Leon Atherton (West), Nissenen-Le (East) and Tennant (London).
Bofenda (East) top-scored with four tries, Kaufman (Midlands) and Ball (London) had three tries each and Eddie Atherton (East), Prosser (Midlands) and Whittington (London) all crossed twice.
South of England media manager Matt Annis said: “The squad, which will be trimmed to 26 players prior to the opening game, appears to be a mix of those who played for the South last year and newcomers.
“All four regions were represented too, though London have the most, which probably isn’t that surprising – the London region is usually (in my experience) the strongest by southern RL standards, certainly in terms of community teams and players.
“That’s partly because they have so many Aussies and Kiwis, though these are not included for selection as, to play in the regional carnival, you effectively have to commit to playing for England.
“It is highly unlikely that any will get selected for the main England Community Lions side, but tapes of matches and recommendations are sent to the selectors.”
