RFU Championship XV


The RFU Championship XV is an invitational rugby union team composed of English qualified players from the second tier competition, the RFU Championship. The team was originally formed for a one–off match against a strong Māori All Blacks team as part of the 2012 end-of-year rugby union tests. However, on 10 September 2014, it was announced that the team will be re-formed for an uncapped match against Canada for the 2014 end-of-year rugby union internationals.
The 2014 fixture will see Martin Haag, head coach of Nottingham, take over from Mike Rayer, Bedford Blues head coach, who led the XV side to a 52–21 loss in the Māori All Blacks fixture. On that occasion, the match was played on 17 November 2012 at Castle Park, as part of the 2012 Māori All Blacks tour of United Kingdom, where the Māori side won two from three matches; 24–32 loss to Leicester Tigers, 52–21 win over RFU Championship XV and finally a 32–19 win over the XV's next opponent Canada.

Squads

2014 Squad vs Canada

On 10 October, Martin Haag announced the first 21 players that would represent the team against Canada on 2 November.
On 16 October, James Phillips was added to the squad.
On 27 October, Haag added a further 2 players to the team, in Jonny Arr and Max Maidment.
1 It was later announced that Jonny Arr had replaced Ryan Glynn, who withdrew from the squad due to injury.
2 On 31 October, Kieran Hallett was added to the squad to replace Dan Mugford, who was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
The final team to face Canada was announced on the 31 October.
PlayerPositionDate of Birth ClubUnion
Charlie ClareHookerBedford Blues England
Tom CruseHooker30 March 1989 Rotherham Titans England
Lee ImiolekProp21 September 1990 Yorkshire Carnegie England
Ryan BowerProp25 February 1991 Worcester Warriors England
Michael HolfordProp11 August 1982 Nottingham England
Max MaidmentProp1 August 1991 London Scottish England
Darren BarryLock2 February 1990 Cornish Pirates England
James Percival Lock9 November 1983 Worcester Warriors England
James PhillipsLock27 September 1987 London Scottish England
Nick Fenton-WellsFlanker11 August 1986 Bedford Blues South Africa
Marco MamaFlanker27 March 1991 Bristol Zimbabwe
Mark BrightNumber eight29 September 1978 London Scottish England
Ryan BurrowsNumber eight25 April 1988 Yorkshire Carnegie England
Jonny ArrScrum-half29 November 1988 Worcester Warriors England
Ryan Glynn 1Scrum-half27 September 1991 Jersey England
Tom KessellScrum-half21 January 1990 Cornish Pirates England
Kieran HallettFly-half2 June 1985 Cornish Pirates Ireland
Dan Mugford 2Fly-half9 October 1991Nottingham England
Lawrence RaynerFly-half13 July 1992 Plymouth Albion England
Greg KingCentre24 April 1988 Moseley England
Will OwenCentre30 March 1995 Moseley Wales
Dougie FlockhartWing25 November 1984 Doncaster Knights Scotland
Michael KeatingWing30 July 1989 Rotherham Titans Ireland
Miles MantellaWing7 October 1991 London Scottish England
Jack ToveyFullback16 December 1990 Bristol Ireland

2012 Squad vs Māori All Blacks

Previous matches

Māori All Blacks (2012)

Coaches