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22.05.2007

Mark Woodrow

England Counties XV selectors have cast their net far and wide in choosing their squad for the forthcoming three-match tour to Russia, the first by a senior England team.

With players drawn from 15 different counties and 17 different clubs, the side fully justifies its role as the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Guinness Premiership.

From Tynedale and Northumberland in the North to Plymouth Albion and Devon in the deep South West and all ports in between, the squad is possibly the most diverse group ever brought together under the Counties XV banner since the team was formed in 2002.

With 12 newcomers to the England Counties scene, the squad also fulfils its role as a player development vehicle. It enables players to put down a marker that can ultimately lead to senior England honours, as Shaun Perry, David Strettle and Dean Schofield have recently underlined.

Esher prop Duncan Cormack, who captained the side this season’s games against an Ireland Clubs XV in Dublin and France Amateurs at Blackheath, will again lead the team, which will have a new coaching combination in Harvey Biljon from Blackheath and David Baldwin from Manchester.

"Every game for us is a challenge and an adventure and this tour will maintain that rich tradition," says Counties XV Manager Jim Robinson: "We have a group of players, some of whom have not played at this level, and little time to weld them into a coherent unit. And we have new and unknown opposition.

"We will be the first senior England representative side to visit Russia and that adds to the excitement and keen anticipation. We have quality players in our squad and I'm looking forward to working with them and seeing them perform.

"As we've said before, England Counties XV is the team that represents the vast majority of the game in England, the rank-and-file counties and individuals who sustain 99% of the club game in England. We're proud of that tag and we'll be representing those people with pride and distinction."

England Counties Tour Squad, Russia 3 –17 June 2007

Backs: Oliver Viney (Lancashire & Preston Grasshoppers), Frankie Neale (Kent & Blackheath), Tom Jarvis (Gloucestershire & Lydney), Hamish Smales (Northumberland & Tynedale), Chris Malherbe (Yorkshire & Wharfedale), Aaran Cruickshank (Devon & Plymouth Albion), Mark Bedworth (Yorkshire & Wharfedale), Scott Rawlings (Staffordshire & Manchester), Mark Woodrow (Gloucestershire& Doncaster), Matthew Leek (Surrey & Esher)

Paul Knight (Gloucestershire & Moseley), Chris Pilgrim (Cheshire & Loughborough University)