Eight North Midlands players have been included in the Midlands Under-20s squad for the England Counties Under-20s Divisional Festival in Derby later this month.
Centre Dan Batty (Malvern), scrum-half Will Hardwick (Birmingham University), fly-half Sam Hollingsworth (Birmingham Moseley), full-back Dan Pemberton have been named in the Midlands backs with prop Ethan Priest (Bromsgrove), number eight Charley Wright (Bridgnorth) and flankers Jacob Wrafter (Stourbridge) and Sam Sheppard (Moseley Oak) among the forwards.
The Divisional Festival, which will be played on Derby’s artificial grass pitch between May 11 and 13 is the final stage in selection for this season’s England Counties Under-20s tour to Georgia next month.
The Midlands will play the South West at Derby on May 13 (11am).
The North Midlands eight were involved in the Midlands’ 44-27 victory over Nottingham Academy at Long Eaton last weekend having secured their place in the final squad after impressing in this season’s National Under-20 Championship and in recent squad sessions at Moseley.