England Students will face Portugal on Saturday 24th of January in the University Stadium of Lisbon, kicking off at 6pm.
Freddie Clarke of Bath University will captain the 23-man squad, of which 17 will receive their first cap for England Students. The number 8 was capped for the first time in the same fixture last year, which saw England Students secure a 30-16 win. Clarke also captained the England Students Development side in 2014 against Welsh Academical’s.
Exeter University’s Rob Coote has been selected as Vice Captain. This will be the scrum half’s third cap against Portugal.
“The boys have worked hard on the training pitch and have bonded together very well,” Head Coach Aaron James said.
Assistant Coach Ian Davies added: “The players’ attitude and application have been first rate and we are now looking forward to translate that into a good team performance on Saturday evening.”
1. Lovejoy Chawatama UWE
2. Callum O'Connell Hartpury
3. Alex Westgarth Northumbria University
4. Joe Dancer UWE
5. Duncan Hales Exeter University
6. George Messum Oxford University
7. Sebastian Nagle-Taylor University College London
8. Freddie Clarke (C) Bath University
9. Rob Coote Exeter University
10. Will Cargill Leeds Beckett
11. Jack Rossiter St Mary's University
12. George Boulton Hartpury
13. Lewis Jones Leeds Beckett
14. Alex O'Meara Hartpury
15. Alex Brown Hartpury
16. Philip Dickinson Loughborough University
17. Piers Goodwill Newcastle University
18. Alec Clarey Hartpury
19. Morgan Eames Bishop Burton
20. Buchan Richardson Durham University
21. Tom Banks Newcastle University
22. Freddie Gabbitas Exeter University
23. Luke Peters Leeds Beckett