England Rugby League

England shoot for success with the Royal Marines

Thursday 22nd July 10

Some of the country’s elite Rugby League talent were put through their paces by the Royal Marines this week as part of England’s preparations for the Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand in the autumn.

The 37-strong group of players got together at Altcar Rifle Range near Liverpool on Tuesday to undertake a series of motivational and fitness tasks under the watchful eye of England Head Coach Steve McNamara.

The group comprised the players who were involved in the England squad for the Gillette Fusion International against France, players with previous England experience and players who have been in form with their Engage Super League clubs in 2010.

“It was a very positive experience for everyone involved,” said McNamara. “I learned a few things about the players and they in turn will have taken a lot from it.

“We don’t get many opportunities to get the country’s elite players together so the chance to work alongside the Royal Marines was really useful.

“All the players involved are potential candidates for selection for this year’s Four Nations but that’s not to say the final squad will come from this group. It’s certainly not a definitive list.

“As well as the boys who are playing in Australia, there are many other players to consider. The door remains wide open for anyone to play themselves into contention for selection over the next couple of months.

“There are a lot of factors to be taken into consideration when selecting a squad. It’s not just about ability – Tuesday was all about making sure we continue to develop the right  culture for England to achieve international success that we began in last year’s Four Nations and continued in the mid-season international.”

England players will next come together at the end of the regular Engage Super League season when players not involved in the play-offs will join a train-on squad. Further players will then join the train-on squad as their clubs are eliminated from the play-offs.

The 37 players who were involved on Tuesday at Liverpool were:

Chris Bridge (Warrington), Tom Briscoe (Hull FC), Kyle Eastmond (St Helens), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Sean O`Loughlin (Wigan), Danny McGuire (Leeds), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Jamie Peacock (Leeds), James Roby (St Helens), Nick Scruton (Bradford), Michael Shenton (Castleford), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Shaun Lunt (Huddersfield), Kevin Brown (Huddersfield), Richard Myler (Warrington), Ryan Atkins (Warrington), Jodie Broughton (Salford), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Peter Fox (Hull KR), Lee Smith (Leeds), Gareth Carvell (Warrington), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Jamie Langley (Bradford), Tony Clubb (Harlequins RL), Ben Jones-Bishop (Harlequins RL), Andy Lynch (Bradford), Joe Westerman (Castleford), Kirk Yeaman (Hull), Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook (Harlequins), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield), Scott Moore (St Helens), Paul Sykes (Bradford), Jon Wilkin (St Helens), Willie Manu (Hull FC).