England Universities will face New Zealand Students in the first of two Student International Test Matches on Saturday, May 19, at the LD Nutrition Stadium, home of Featherstone Rovers, 2.15pm kick off local time.
The game will be the first meeting between the teams since England’s golden-point victory over New Zealand in the 2013 Student Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final which was played in Dewsbury.
England ran out 18-17 winners after a drop goal five minutes into extra time.
England’s 2018 season has started with two President’s Cup wins over GB Police and GB Teachers under new Head Coach Richard Tate’s watchful eye.
Tate will draw on players with previous England experience such as Ben Stead, Jason Bass, Marcus Stock and James Mason alongside a host of debutants including Ben Gray, Lee Registe and Munashe Fumhanda.
New Zealand, who have not played a student international since 2015, will be looking to show their hosts they are no easy beats having suffered a 29-0 loss to Leeds Beckett University as part of their preparation campaign.
England Universities squad:
Ben Gray – Sheffield Hallam
Ben Stead – Gloucestershire
Conner MacCallum – Manchester Met
Harry Aaronson – Leeds
Harry Chapman – Loughborough
James Mason – Gloucestershire
Jason Bass – Newcastle
Jed Mawdsley – Newcastle
Lee Registe – Leeds Beckett
Lewis Fairhurst – Edge Hill
Lewis Taylor – Loughborough
Luke Stephens – Gloucestershire
Marcus Stock – Sheffield
Matthew Chrimes – Leeds Beckett
Munashe Fumhanda – Leicester
Nathan Ainsworth – UCLan
Ryan Langton – Hull
Will Jubb – Hull
New Zealand Students squad:
Ben Tunnicliff
Brooklyn Niwa
Cameron Walters
Destry Tamai
George Ropati
Isaac Robinson
Jake Cusack
Jason Whareaitu
Jeremy Suilepa
Jong Hoon Lee
Jordan Stuart
Josh Mckenzie
Kane Telea
Matt Filipo
Michael Hollis
Mitchell Ropati
Mona Sio
Ricki Allan
Rory Ropati
