RFU Championship XV

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The RFU Championship XV is an invitational rugby union team composed of English qualified players from the second tier competition, the RFU Championship. The team was originally formed for a one–off match against a strong Māori All Blacks team as part of the 2012 end-of-year rugby union tests. However, on 10 September 2014, it was announced that the team will be re-formed for an uncapped match against Canada for the 2014 end-of-year rugby union internationals.[1]

The 2014 fixture will see Martin Haag, head coach of Nottingham, take over from Mike Rayer, Bedford Blues head coach,[2] who led the XV side to a 52–21 loss in the Māori All Blacks fixture. On that occasion, the match was played on 17 November 2012 at Castle Park, as part of the 2012 Māori All Blacks tour of United Kingdom, where the Māori side won two from three matches; 24–32 loss to Leicester Tigers, 52–21 win over RFU Championship XV and finally a 32–19 win over the XV's next opponent Canada.

Squads

2014 Squad vs Canada

On 10 October, Martin Haag announced the first 21 players that would represent the team against Canada on 2 November.[3]

On 16 October, James Phillips was added to the squad.[4]

On 27 October, Haag added a further 2 players to the team, in Jonny Arr and Max Maidment.[5]

1 It was later announced that Jonny Arr had replaced Ryan Glynn, who withdrew from the squad due to injury.[6]

2 On 31 October, Kieran Hallett was added to the squad to replace Dan Mugford, who was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.[7]

The final team to face Canada was announced on the 31 October.[8]

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Club Union
Charlie Clare Hooker (22) Bedford Blues England England
Tom Cruse Hooker 30 March 1989 (25) Rotherham Titans England England
Lee Imiolek Prop 21 September 1990 (24) Yorkshire Carnegie England England
Ryan Bower Prop 25 February 1991 (23) Worcester Warriors England England
Michael Holford Prop 11 August 1982 (32) Nottingham England England
Max Maidment Prop 1 August 1991 (23) London Scottish England England
Darren Barry Lock 2 February 1990 (24) Cornish Pirates England England
James Percival (c) Lock 9 November 1983 (30) Worcester Warriors England England
James Phillips Lock 27 September 1987 (27) London Scottish England England
Nick Fenton-Wells Flanker 11 August 1986 (28) Bedford Blues South Africa South Africa
Marco Mama Flanker 27 March 1991 (23) Bristol Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
Mark Bright Number eight 29 September 1978 (36) London Scottish England England
Ryan Burrows Number eight 25 April 1988 (26) Yorkshire Carnegie England England
Jonny Arr Scrum-half 29 November 1988 (25) Worcester Warriors England England
Ryan Glynn 1 Scrum-half 27 September 1991 (23) Jersey England England
Tom Kessell Scrum-half 21 January 1990 (24) Cornish Pirates England England
Kieran Hallett Fly-half 2 June 1985 (29) Cornish Pirates Ireland Ireland
Dan Mugford 2 Fly-half 9 October 1991 Nottingham England England
Lawrence Rayner Fly-half 13 July 1992 (22) Plymouth Albion England England
Greg King Centre 24 April 1988 (26) Moseley England England
Will Owen Centre 30 March 1995 (19) Moseley Wales Wales
Dougie Flockhart Wing 25 November 1984 (30) Doncaster Knights Scotland Scotland
Michael Keating Wing 30 July 1989 (25) Rotherham Titans Ireland Ireland
Miles Mantella Wing 7 October 1991 (23) London Scottish England England
Jack Tovey Fullback 16 December 1990 (21) Bristol Ireland Ireland

2012 Squad vs Māori All Blacks

Previous matches

Māori All Blacks (2012)

17 November 2012
12:05 WET/GMT+0 (UTC+0)
RFU Championship XV England 21–52  Māori All Blacks
Try: Mama 22' m
Crane 78' c
Con: Roberts (0/1)
Sharp 79' (1/1)
Report Try: O'Donnell 14' c
Baker 28' c
Elliot 33' c
Renata 53' c
Dixon 56' m
Wilson 63' c
Graham 72' c
Willison 75' m
Con: Ripia (5/7) 15', 29', 34', 64', 73'
Trent Renata (1/1) 54'
Castle Park, Doncaster
Attendance: 4,956
Referee: England David Rose

Coaches

Captains

See also

References