A-Team Six Nations needs resurrecting
WITH the Six Nations just kicking off I have a question: Just where are the Saxons?
The last tour to South Africa in 2017 provided the perfect testing ground for Dan Robson, who is now in the England 23.
Wasn’t there supposed to be a tour in 2018? And what and where is the ‘A-Team’ Six Nations Championship? Surely it would not be hard to arrange such matches – England are crying out for a team to link the U20s to the senior team.
If the Irish, French, Welsh, Scots or Italians don’t want to play, I bet Georgia would be very happy to take on the Saxons as they prepare for the RWC in Japan. Not to mention the USA and Canada, the previous teams to contest the Churchill Cup.
Meanwhile, we have a lot of young talented players over the age of 20 who, while getting the occasional chance for their clubs are mainly being left out in the cold.
Surely a high intensity international match would aid their development more than playing in a re-branded A-league match, or Cup game, ever would. Most of our top youngsters have been to the Junior World Championship final stages and mixed it with the best from around the world.
They should be given a chance to continue to do so in the build up to full Test honours, players like Max Malins, Harry Mallander, Joe Simmonds and Ben Curry. We’ve heard murmurings but nothing definite – when, if ever, will the Saxons return? DAVID SHORT via email