Rugby League World Cup: Yorkshire clubs provide 13 players for England's elite training squad

THIRTEEN PLAYERS from Yorkshire clubs have been named in England's elite performance squad, which will meet regularly throughout the season ahead of this autumn's World Cup.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Jan 2017, 14:31 BST
Updated 26th Jan 2017, 14:32 BST
Brett Ferres, who has retained his England Elite Squad place despite withdrawing from last year's tournament through injury.Brett Ferres, who has retained his England Elite Squad place despite withdrawing from last year's tournament through injury.
Brett Ferres, who has retained his England Elite Squad place despite withdrawing from last year's tournament through injury.

Leeds Rhinos’ Ryan Hall and Kallum Watkins retain their place after featuring for England in their 2016 Four Nations campaign.

Brett Ferres, who withdrew from last autumn’s tournament due to injury, is also included along with the player who replaced him in the England camp, Stevie Ward.

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Castleford Tigers’ uncapped forward Mike McMeeken is joined in the squad by club-mates Luke Gale, Zak Hardaker and Michael Shenton.

Hull’s Scott Taylor, who made his Test debut last year, is included alongside Danny Houghton and Jamie Shaul after they were controversial omitted from the Four Nations squad.

Leroy Cudjoe is back in contention, along with his Huddersfield Giants teammate Jermaine McGillvary.

St Helens’ Matty Smith, Warrington Wolves’ Ben Currie and Wigan Warriors’ Sam Tomkins are all included, but will not attend sessions until they recover from injury.

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Meanwhile, the BBC have secured television rights for the 2021 World Cup. At least 16 games will be broadcast on BBC One or BBC Two, with the rest streamed online or via the red button.

The England elite performance squad is: Luke Gale, Zak Hardaker, Mike McMeeken, Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers), Leroy Cudjoe, Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Danny Houghton, Scott Taylor, Jamie Shaul (Hull FC), Brett Ferres, Ryan Hall, Stevie Ward, Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos), Kyle Amor, Joe Greenwood, Johnny Lomax, Mark Percival, James Roby, Matty Smith (St Helens), Kevin Brown, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie, Chris Hill, Stefan Ratchford (Warrington Wolves), John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Tomkins, George Williams (Wigan Warriors).

Related topics:Leeds RhinosYorkshireScott TaylorEngland