Magnificent seven get the Counties call
NO fewer than seven Coventry Rugby stars have been named in a 26-man England Counties squad for next week’s Spain tour.
The list named by manager Matt Long includes four players who spent last season at the Butts Park Arena plus three who have joined ahead of Cov’s assault on the National One title which begins in September.
Second row Nile Dacres, who has left Plymouth for Cov and ex-Moseley flanker Jack Preece are Cov’s two forward representatives.
But the potency of the backline is underlined by the selection of centre Tom Wheatcroft, back three specialists James Stokes and Max Trimble plus two scrum halves – Pete White and another Moseley departee, Dave Brazier.
The squad, set to depart on Monday following the culmination of the Bill Beaumont County Championship, will play Euskarians in San Sebastian on Wednesday, May 31 before playing a Spain XV on Saturday, June 3.
The squad, which includes players from 16 different clubs who are spread across next season’s National One and National Two North and South competitions, is captained by Blaydon’s Keith Laughlin.
Counties are unbeaten so far in 2017 having recorded wins over Scotland Club XV and Ireland Club XV, running out 45-28 and 34-26 winners respectively.
“I’m expecting a physical tour. Given we wanted a full test against the international side, I think we’ll get one,” Long said.
“We’ve done a bit of research, and we know Spain are improving, their world ranking is proof of that.
“We’re going to have a hard test.” KURTLEY Beale’s prospects of making his Wasps curtain call on the biggest stage in English rugby are hanging by a thread.
The Australian full back, who returns to Sydney-based Waratahs after Saturday’s Twickenham Aviva Premiership final, is battling to overcome the hamstring injury which forced him from the field in the second half of last weekend’s pulsating semi-final win over Leicester.
And while black-and-gold rugby director Dai Young is not yet giving up on his marquee signing, neither does he radiate confidence about his prospects of facing the Exeter Chiefs.
“It’s still a little bit early to be 100 per cent about Kurtley,” Young said. “He’ll have to go some to be fit but we’ll give it our best shot.
“We can’t be definite either way at this point in time as you always have to rest a hamstring injury for a while to see how it responds.
“We’ve had him scanned, but that was precautionary as he has good strength and movement in it.
“We’ll have a better picture later in the week, and in the meantime we’ve got our fingers crossed, but a week is a tight turnaround.”
When the 60-times-capped Wallaby departed the Ricoh six minutes after the interval, he was replaced by Josh Bassett, who went on to claim his 12th try of the season in all competitions, which was also a 78th-minute matchclincher.
The arrival of the young winger shifted Springbok international Willie Le Roux to full back, and Wasps’ boss hinted this arrangement is likely to be repeated on Saturday if Beale is ruled out.
“Willie Le Roux isn’t a bad contingency plan, and I thought he played really well against Leicester,” Young said. “I don’t want to pick the team now, but there’s a good chance he’ll fit in there. Rob Miller is still not 100 per cent and after being out for three or four months picking him in a final would be a bit of a call.”
Young had more positive news about Wasps’ other main injury concern from the semi-final.
After producing possibly his best performance of the season, England No.8 Nathan Hughes limped off six minutes from time after turning an ankle, but should, according to his boss, not be in any danger of missing the final.
“Nathan isn’t training yet,” he said, “But we’re pretty positive he’ll be fine. He’s got an ankle sprain, and while he won’t train in the early part of the