Loughborough College welcomed top names from Rugby League’s National Academy for the first England South Colleges training camp.
The College played host to young players from across the region, including from its campus-based Midlands Hurricanes, and were joined by national Academy Manager Dave Elliott, Head of Performance Tony Fretwell and RFL Exercise Physiologist Nick Dobbin who also works with Super League and Championships sides.
England South Colleges Head Coach and Head of Midlands Hurricanes Rugby League at Loughborough College Greg Mannion said: “It was great to bring some of the best young players from across the region to the College for a day of high-calibre training.
“Dave and Tony were pleased with the standards of the England set up which put players through their paces with strength and conditioning in the morning and developed their skills on the field in the afternoon.
“This level of training helps takes the players a step closer to some fantastic opportunities. The south will play the north in the summer next year and me and the North coach will then selected the England Colleges side who will play the England Academy and Australian Schoolboys sides in November 2018.
“It’s all about raising these young players’ individual performances and developing rugby league in our area – and we’re building a solid track record of success with the Hurricanes at the College.
“Joe Doughty received his official cap for Wales Under 18’s Rugby League and we’ve had many players from our programme snapped up for trials and given contracts with Super League and Championship clubs.”
Owen Jones, Jacob Jones and Cameron Kendall were all recently signed to the London Broncos' full-time U19 squad, dividing their time between the capital and their training and studies at Loughborough College.