April 29, 2008

England Students have called up three uncapped players to face the Combined Services Under-23 side at Twickenham.

Ed Pickles (Imperial Medics), Chris Rowley (Oxford Brookes) and Patrick Dias (Loughborough) have been named in a 22-man squad preparing for the Students’ final game of the season.

Pickles is a former England Under 18 prop in his first season at Imperial Medics, Rowley is a scrum half who has appeared at National League level with Stourbridge while experienced centre Dias was part of the GB Universities Sevens side that finished second at the 2006 World Student Games.

They join a squad aiming to finish on a high after a season that started with a defeat in France before wins against Scotland and Ireland.

Among eight other players returning to the squad is Exeter theology student Michael Rickner, who scored two tries on his debut in the 42-0 win over Scotland.

England Students squad

Forwards

Ed Pickles (Imperial Medics)
Thomas Fidler (Bath University)
Richard Lutton (Oxford University)
Matthew Cross (Loughborough University)
Jonathan Moyce (St Mary's College)
Simon Pitfield (Loughborough University)
Adrian Griffiths (Bath University)
Andre Pretorious (UWE Hartpury)
Michael Rickner (ExeterUniversity)
Mike Denbee (Plymouth University)
Peter Clarke (Oxford University)
Peter Browne (Durham University)

Backs
Chris Rowley (Oxford Brookes)
Toby Henry (Oxford University)
Patrick Dias (Loughborough University)
Christopher Ashwin (Bath University)
Phillip Ellis (Hertfordshire University)
Tim Stevenson (UWE Hartpury)
Drew Locke (Northumbria University)
Scott Armstrong (Leeds Met University)
Thomas Hockedy (Exeter University)
Peter Wackett (Leeds University)

ends