England Saxons

England Saxons
File:Saxons.gif
Union	Rugby Football Union
Coach	Flag of England Jim Mallinder
Captain	David Barnes
Team colours
File:Flag of England.svg

The England Saxons are the second national rugby union team behind the English national side. They are one of the three sides that compete every year in the Churchill Cup, alongside the full national teams of Canada and the United States (the two most recent competitions, in 2006 and 2007, also involved Scotland A, Ireland A and New Zealand Māori). They are currently coached by Jim Mallinder.

Concept

England A, as it was originally known (since 1992) changed their name to England Saxons shortly before the start of the 2006 (Barclays) Churchill Cup. Prior to 1992 they had been known as England B.

As well as playing in the Churchill Cup in Canada and the United States the team also take part in matches against opponents from the European Six Nations teams (England, France, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Wales) as part of a second team development process to encourage greater strength in depth for all nations taking part. As quoted by the then-England Rugby head coach Andy Robinson:

"The future success of rugby in England depends, to a large extent, on the next best 15 players."

"The England Saxons will give up-and-coming players a platform to perform in an international environment and to show that they can make the step up when required."

Players do not receive a 'cap', but is still a huge honour.

Tournaments

Barclays Churchill Cup

Six Nations A (Second team participation)

Current/Imminent Tournament Fixtures

Template:Churchill Cup Fixtures 2007

England Saxons Squad

Backs

Name Club Birth Nick Abendanon Bath Rugby 1986 Delon Armitage London Irish 1983 Olly Barkley Bath Rugby 1981 Danny Cipriani London Wasps 1987 Lee Dickson Newcastle Falcons 1985 Paul Diggin Northampton Saints 1985 Ayoola Erinle London Wasps 1980 Shane Geraghty London Irish 1986 Adrian Jarvis NEC Harlequins 1983 Ryan Lamb Gloucester Rugby 1986 Nils Mordt London Irish 1983 Topsy Ojo London Irish 1985 Paul Sackey London Wasps 1979 Dan Scarbrough Saracens 1978 Kevin Sorrell Saracens 1977 Tom Voyce London Wasps 1981 Richard Wigglesworth Sale Sharks 1983

Forwards

Name Club Birth Richard Blaze Worcester Warriors 1985 Chris Brooker NEC Harlequins 1986 John Brooks NEC Harlequins 1977' Jordan Crane Leicester Tigers 1986 Tom Croft Leicester Tigers 1985 Phil Dowson Newcastle Falcons 1981 Jim Evans NEC Harlequins 1980 Jack Forster Gloucester Rugby 1987 James Haskell London Wasps 1985 Neal Hatley London Irish 1969 Nick Kennedy London Irish 1981 Michael Lipman Bath Rugby 1980 Tom Mercey Saracens 1987 David Paice London Irish 1983 Kieran Roche London Irish 1979 David Seymour Saracens 1984 Will Skinner NEC Harlequins 1984 Matt Thompson Newcastle Falcons 1982 Ben Woods Newcastle Falcons 1982

External links

• England Rugby

• Barclays Churchill Cup

Template:Rugby union in England Template:Churchill Cup