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County trio named in USA tour squad
By John Wilkinson May 21 2008
THREE Warwickshire players have been named in the England Counties squad for a three-match tour to the USA and Canada next month. Coventry scum-half Nathan Jones and hooker Chris Whitehead join former Nuneaton prop Phil Boulton, who will play for Bedford next season, in a 26-strong party chosen from 13 counties and 17 clubs.

The tour takes place between June 2-16 with two games against USA 'A' in New York on June 6 and 9 before England Counties play a Canada Select XV in Chatham on June 13.

With players drawn from as far afield as Tynedale in the North East and Launceston in the deep South West, the squad underlines how the selectors have cast their net far and wide to give all the players involved in the three-tier County Championship programme a chance to press their claims.

Team manager Danny Hodgson will be keeping his fingers crossed that the six members of his squad in the two County finals at Twickenham on June 1 - the Bill Beaumont Cup and the County Championship Shield - come through unscathed.

"There is always concern when we have matches so close to departure time and we have contingency plans with lads on stand-by sitting on their suitcases and other players in reserve," said Hodgson.

"Obviously, we are hoping that all goes well, but there is always a risk. I was very disappointed for Chris Rainbow, who was injured on our tour to Russia last year and then dislocated his shoulder last weekend to rule himself out of this trip.

"From a playing perspective, I'm excited about the make-up of the squad and the way it has been put together. The selection process has been excellent with all the counties having been watched by an England Counties XV selector."

Hodgson added: "We have had three in-depth selection meetings and we've drawn together a very capable and exciting group of players." Full squad:

Backs: Gavin Beasley(Northumberland & Tynedale), Oliver Brennand (Lancashire & Fylde), Ben Coulbeck (Cheshire & Manchester), James Doherty (Lancs & Wharfedale), Jason Duffy (Lancs & Waterloo), Tom Jarvis (Gloucestershire & Stourbridge), Matt Jess (Cornwall & Launceston), Nathan Jones (Warwickshire & Coventry),Scott Rawlings (Staffordshire & Manchester), Richard Wainwright (Yorkshire & Manchester), Andre Wilson (Cheshire & Manchester), Oliver Winter (North Midlands & Moseley).

Forwards: Phil Boulton (Warwicks & Bedford), Daniel Collier (Middlesex & London Welsh), Alex Davidson (North Midlands & Pertemps Bees), Michael Denbee (Somerset& Plymouth Albion), Mark Evans (North Mids & Moseley), Dan Hyde (Yorkshire & Otley), James Kellard (Kent & Blackheath), Tim Mathias (Devon & Plymouth), Sebastian Moss (Lancs & Manchester), Matthew Owen (Cheshire & Manchester), Petrus du Plessis (Lancs & Sedgley Park), Chris Whitehead (Warwicks & Coventry), Johnathan Williams (Northumb & Tynedale), Liam Wordley (Staffs & Henley).

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