The South West Student Rugby League representative squad has been selected following the recent trial in Bristol.
13 players from University of Gloucestershire All Golds, and eight players from unbeaten Exeter University, have made the squad, ahead of those universities meeting in the National BUCS Championship Quarter Final on 29th February.
Seven students from divisional champions Bath University are included in the representative selection, with a further five from the Bristol Academy at Filton College, and two from the UWE team in Bristol. All three institutions are enjoying their first full season of rugby league. Seven different HE and FE universities and colleges are contributing players to the squad, illustrating the strength and depth of the student game in the South West.
The selectors have chosen a strong initial squad that will be trimmed down to 20 in time for the Regional Championships at Nottingham Trent University on March 31st. Head coach Karl Fearnley, from the National Conference team Bristol Sonics, has been delighted at the competition for places and the standard of players available.
The South West will meet Yorkshire and Humber, the North West and Cumbria, the Midlands, the North East and the South East. There will be a number of training dates based at different universities throughout the region between February 19 and March 25.
Exeter based South West Team Manager, Tom Williams is full of optimism, he said: "This is the finest squad we have selected so far and we are confident of victory against the other regions."
The full squad is as follows:
Bath University:
Gavin Grant
Rhys Williams
Miles Dempsey
Harry Chapman-Walker
Ste Taylor
Toby Davies
Joe McClean
Bristol Academy of Sport:
Joe Rider
Elliot Rea
Jake Robertson
Josh Cooper
Peter Hayes
Wijnard Wormhoudt
Exeter College:
Alex Ford
Exeter University:
Matthew Laventure
Stephen List
Nigel Peart
Mark Goulder
Hugo Fraser
Luke Evans
Josh Jones
Hartpury College:
Daniel Brooker
University of Gloucestershire All Golds:
Jordan Rice
Ryan Solomon
Liam Long
James Gahan
Yannic Parker
Callum Mulkeen
Matt Bradley
David Sanders
James Walter
Marcus Brown
Rory Sharratt
James Greene
Nathan Rainer
University of West of England:
Ali Bennet
Arran Pearse
