Hertfordshire's skipper, Dave Archer, has received just reward for his outstanding performances in the resen County Championship by being selected for the England Counties XV for the inaugural FIRA/AER Festival to be held in South West France from September 5/13, 2007.
The England RU Counties XV, the representative flagship of the County Championship and the game outside the Premiership, have stayed true to their development ethos by naming 14 previously untried players in their squad of 26. The Counties XV, which included Hertfordshire's Chris Rainbow, recently returned from a successful first trip to Russia, but only six of the squad that beat Russia in the Test match that wrapped up that three-match visit will be on duty in France.
Because of the impact of the National Division One league programme and the promotion of Esher to that section, the squad for France is drawn from National Division Two and below, hence the significant change of personnel.
One message the survivors will surely be passing on to the newcomers, however, is that the opening game of the three-match programme, against Russia in Fleurance, near Auch, will be a serious test of technique and temperament.
The Counties XV defeated Russia 23-21 in their most recent game, but had to defend doggedly to hold on for the win, which was only secured when an injury time conversion attempt by the Russians went wide.
Says Counties XV Manager Jim Robinson: “All three Russian sides were extremely competitive on home soil and I’ve no doubt that when they come to this festival, they will be just as passionate and skilful. Their links with France have helped to shape what is a very exciting and ambitious style and it offers us a serious challenge. Of course part of our remit is player development on both sides of the scale and I know we learned plenty from the Russian trip. Now we take on our old friends the French Amateur side, who will be very keen to redress the balance of recent results have gone our way, while we will also be extending our horizons by playing Spain for the first time.
“The festival is a first for all the teams taking part and I know it will be a competitive, challenging affair which our players will learn from. Most will be wearing an England shirt for the first time and I know they will rise to the occasion and wear the jersey with pride. The players have been chosen because of their form in the County Championship and I’m excited that we have a squad with so many young players who have already made their mark in the competition.”
The England Counties XV itinerary is: September 6: England v Russia in Fleurance (17.00); September 10: England v Spain in Morlaas (17.00); September 13: England v France in Saint-Paul Les Dax (18.00).
The England Counties squad is:
Craig Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), David Allen (Blackheath & Kent), David Archer (Henley & Hertfordshire), Thomas Bason (Blackheath & Kent), Dan Cooper (Durham University & Durham), Glenn Cooper (Redruth & Somerset), Kyle Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), James Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Daniel Hyde (Otley & Yorkshire), Darren Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), Thomas Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), James Jenner (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), Peter Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Paul Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), Frankie Neale (Blackheath & Kent), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), Matthew Payne (Henley & Oxfordshire), Tristan Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), Chris Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), Nicholas Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), Alastair Simmie (Durham University & Durham), Alex(Jack) Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland), Richard Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), James Tideswell (Stourbridge & North Midlands), Liam Wordley (Henley & Staffordshire).
