Jim Mallinder and Steve Diamond will coach England at the Churchill Cup in Calgary and Edmonton in June following their success last summer when England beat the USA 43-6 to win the inaugural competition.
RFU Performance Director Chris Spice said, “Jim and Steve did a very good job last year, not only winning all three games in Canada but then two games in Japan. They are two of our up and coming coaches and have shown that they can manage elite players and get the best out of them.”
Sale Sharks coach Mallinder said, “I really enjoyed the Churchill Cup last summer. We had a really good set of players who performed well to go through the tour, including Japan, unbeaten. I am looking forward to working with Steve again - we know how each other operates from our time together at Sale. It is going to be hard work, especially with the inclusion of the New Zealand Maori, but we will relish the challenge.”
The second Churchill Cup kicks off at Calgary Rugby Park on 12th June. The national men’s and women’s teams of Canada, USA, and England are competing, as well as the New Zealand Maori and their female compatriots, the Black Ferns.
The tournament, which was held in Vancouver last June, has been switched to Alberta, with the finals being played the following Saturday June 19th in Edmonton.
Sponsored by Nike UK, O2 and British Airways, the Churchill Cup is part of a strategic alliance between the England Rugby Football Union (RFU), USA Rugby and Rugby Canada to provide top class regular competition and development opportunities for all participants.
Spice said, “The Churchill Cup is an essential part of our development programme. For the players that competed last year like Olly Barkley and Chris Jones and who took part in this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship, it was a major step forward in their development.”
Churchill Cup 2004
Saturday June 12: Calgary Rugby Park
1230 Canada Women v England Women
1500 US Eagles v NZ Maori
1700 Rugby Canada Super League - Calgary Mavericks v Sask Prairie Fire
Sunday June 13: Calgary Rugby Park
1515 USA Women v NZ Black Ferns
1800 Canada Men v England Men
Saturday June 19: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
1000 Women’s 3rd/4th Place Play-off
1230 Women’s Final
1515 Men’s 3rd/4th Place Play-off
1800 Men’s Final
