England Knights


England Knights is considered the feeder team for the England rugby league team. The Knights play a key role in the development of emerging talent, allowing players to gain experience in an international environment and to compete for a place in the England first team.

History

1990s-2000s: Origins

The idea of a second England team originated in the 1990s as "Emerging England" to give young players a chance to play internationally before being called up to the senior side. Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s Emerging England played against the senior sides of developing nations. In another incarnation as "England A", the team took on the Australian Kangaroos in the second game of the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France. The Kangaroos defeated England A 26–22 in front of 6,817 fans.

2011-2013: Foundation

In the late 2000s, the idea of a second England team was dropped until 2011 when the RFL decided to resurrect it as England Knights. A squad of players under 25 were chosen play against France and where they came out 38–18 victors. The following year they competed in and won the 2012 European Championship and defeated Samoa in a 2013 test match. Unfortunately the Knights would then go on a 5-year hiatus.

2014-2017: Hiatus

The England Knights team was not utilized at all in 2014-2017.

2018: Return

In 2018 it was announced that the Knights would go on a two series tour of Papua New Guinea.

Current squad

The England Knights squad for the 2018 tour of Papua New Guinea was announced on the 3rd of October. However, on the day the Squad was due to fly out, Declan Patton from the Warrington Wolves was called up to replace the injured Danny Richardson.
PlayerDate of birth CapsPtsClub
Niall Evalds10 Salford Red Devils
Jack Walker14 Leeds Rhinos
Tom Davies14 Wigan Warriors
Tom Lineham212 Warrington Wolves
Ash Handley00 Leeds Rhinos
Toby King10 Warrington Wolves
Liam Sutcliffe14 Leeds Rhinos
Chris Atkin20 Hull Kingston Rovers
Sam Powell10 Wigan Warriors
Declan Patton14 Warrington Wolves
Matty Lees10 St. Helens
Robbie Mulhern10 Hull Kingston Rovers
Mikolaj Oledzki00 Leeds Rhinos
Kruise Leeming10 Huddersfield Giants
Danny Walker00 Warrington Wolves
James Batchelor10 Wakefield Trinity
Oliver Holmes10 Castleford Tigers
Jack Hughes 30 Warrington Wolves
Harvey Livett10 Warrington Wolves
Joe Philbin10 Warrington Wolves
Matt Whitley00 Catalans Dragons
Brad Fash10 Hull F.C.
Dean Hadley00 Hull F.C.

Competitive Records

Overview