The England u15's flew to France today along with the England u16 team. Interesting to see that only 2!!! players from the whole of the north west got into the U15 team.

Lewis Gailbraith - Saddleworth - Saints
Ben White - Saddleworth - Leeds

Is this because of biased picking or talent wise ? Orell St James won the National cup the other day yet none of their Wigan and Saints lads have been picked.

It's squad is full of Leeds and Bradford lads.

I wonder if it's because of the different school holidays? All our kids are back on Monday.

Having just read a article it seems that it's a under 16 squad with a number of u15's added. So it's not a full u15 squad but it still seems strange why so many yorkshire lads have been picked.

I've heard our youth teams have a habit of being picked by coaches rather than talent ?

it certainly happened on the last tour to Australia (full of Bradford players) and the last home series (full of Wire players)

As I said it is possibly school holiday related, it seems strange that the two lads are from Saddleworth who would probably have the same holidays as the Yorkshire lads.

I'll try and find out at the U18's tomorrow.

Ok cheers mate.

That's the word over this way Rogues, as the kids in Oldham are only back in school on the 19th.

Cheers, I thought it may be that.

Well my mate on the 16's is off to france, and were back on wednesday, but has been allowed a few days off

IF thats the reason its pathetic.
What kind of school would stand in the way of a child going on a trip like this?

I'm trying to find out the reason, I've just asked on the Leeds board about the holidays. It's the only logical answer that I can come up with.

Some schools could stop it at under 16's as it is so close to the exams, i think my first one is in 4 weeks :O
In-fact we have a PE practical exam next Tuesday which had to be moved from this Thursday because of my mate going to France.

According to the Leeds site some of their kids only go back on Monday week, so that would appear to be a major factor.

Give over, they've got their G.C.S.E's coming up!

Not the under 15's which is who i am talking about.

A number of u16's have been picked from St helens, Warrington and Wigan and they're the ones who's got G.C.S.E's comming up.

The 42-strong England Youth squad in full is as follows:

Player Scholarship Club Community Club
John Bateman Bradford Bulls Dudley Hill
Saul Beavis Hull FC West Hull
Ben Currie Wigan Warriors Golbourne Parkside
Ben Finder Leeds Rhinos Wetherby Bulldogs
Lewis Foster St Helens Portico
Thomas Gilmore Widnes Vikings Halton Hornets
Jamie Hodgkiss Wigan Warriors Ryland Sharks
Liam McAvoy Whitehaven Broughton Red Rose
Mike McMeeken Harlequins RL West London Sharks
Martin O'Neill Whitehaven Kells ARLFC
James Saltonstall Warrington Wolves Siddal
Conner Spencer Huddersfield Giants Hunslet Warriors
Chris Taylor Wigan Warriors Wigan St Pats
Stevie Ward Leeds Rhinos Hunslet Warriors
Lewis Whitty Widnes Halton Farnworth Hornets
Ben Warrilow Warrington Wolves Newsome Panthers
Danny Yates St Helens Waterhead
Jonathan Ford Salford City Reds Blackbrook Royals
Elliot Miller Leeds Rhinos Hunslet Warriors
Dominic Speakman St Helens Halton Hornets
Bradley Adams Bradford Bulls Shaw Cross
Bradley Day Leeds Rhinos Hunslet Warriors
Lewis Galbraith St Helens Saddleworth Rangers
Ryan Hampshire Hull FC Smawthorne Panthers
Jordan Harper Leeds Rhinos Normanton Knights
Michael Learmonth Leeds Rhinos Hunslet Parkside
Scott Lee Leeds Rhinos Shaw Cross Sharks
Alex Mellor Bradford Bulls Kings Cross Park
William Milner Bradford Bulls Kings Cross Park
Bobby Tyson-Wilson Hull FC West Hull
Ben White Leeds Rhinos Saddleworth Rangers
Bradley Ashurst St Helens Portico Vine
Christopher Rowe Leigh Centurions Wigan St Cuthberts
Gavin Bennion Warrington Wolves Rylands Sharks
Jonathan Rigby Warrington Wolves Halton Farnworth Hornets
Curtis Naughton Bradford Bulls Shaw Cross Sharks
Jake Dehal Clark Castleford Tigers Hunslet, Parkside U16s
Jordan Baldwinson Leeds Rhinos Hunslet Warriors
Josh Sunley Leeds Rhinos Hunslet Warriors
Matthew Beharrell Hull KR Holderness Vikings
Matthew Marsh Hull KR Skirlaugh Bulls U 15s
Zak Dewhirst Warrington Wolves King Cross Park

Pretty mixed bunch really.

Fell to a 19-16 defeat in the first test on Monday night.