By Tony Simpson RFU Press Office
March 1 2006

England Counties XV take on French Amateurs in Beaune. Unofficial England Rugby wishes them the very best of luck. Match will kick off 1500 11/3/06

England Counties XV Manager in positive mood

Jim Robinson, who will manage the England Counties XV against France Amateurs in Beaune on Saturday week March 11, 15.00, was in up-beat mood after his squad’s first training session at Broadstreet RFC yesterday (Sunday, Feb 26).

“I am very pleased with the way things went and the speed at which the lads managed to gel together into a cohesive unit,” he said. “We have another session at Broadstreet next Sunday and I know we’ll be even stronger in terms of organisation after that.

“I’ve seen all the lads in the squad at one stage or another and I know we have a lot of very talented players in the group.

“Blending them together in a short time is the challenge the coaching staff are faced with and judging from that initial session, we’ve made some good progress in that department.

The fact that 13 different counties are represented in the squad underlines the depth of the selection process and the extent of the challenge facing coach Paul Westgate.

North Midlands, who have long been passionate about the County Championship and dedicated supporters of the Counties XV, supply the biggest contingent. They have five players flying their flag and hoping to emulate the success of England A and Bristol scrum-half Shaun Perry, who first started out on the representative ladder with North Midlands and the Counties XV.

The 22-man match squad that departs for France on Wednesday week (March 8) is: 

Backs: Chris Briers (Orrell & Lancashire), Simon Brocklehurst (Nuneaton & Kent), Neil Hallett (Esher & Surrey), Toby Handley (Stourbridge & Durham), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Phil Reed (Nuneaton  & Warwickshire), Hamish Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland), Ollie Thomas (Moseley & North Midlands), Ollie Viney (Preston & Lancashire), Lewis Vinnicombe (Redruth & Cornwall). 

Forwards: Des Brett (Blackheath & Eastern Counties), Adam Caves (Moseley & North Midlands), Duncan Cormack (Esher & Surrey), Simon Elkinson (Esher), Mark Evans (Moseley & North Midlands), John Munro (Nuneaton & Warwickshire), Wayne Reed (Launceston & Devon), James Rodwell (Moseley & North Midlands), Richard Snowball (Darlington & Yorkshire), Richard Stott (Moseley & North Midlands), Stean Williams (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), James Winterbottom (Henley & Middlesex).

Unofficial England Rugby wishes them Good Luck