Peacock not worried by Eastmond defection

England captain Jamie Peacock is sure that English rugby league will produce more top class talent to replace Kyle Eastmond, who will switch codes at the end of the season.

Eastmond was a notable omission from Steve McNamara’s Elite Training Squad, and the news was soon finally confirmed that he will leave St Helens and rugby league at the end of the year to move to Bath rugby union.

Peacock said: “Kyle Eastmond has decided to switch codes for his own reasons. I have spent time with him with England and he is a great guy. Good luck to him in his next step but League has always produced top class talent and I am sure we will continue to do so.”

Together with the Elite Training Squad, the RFL also announced the new England Knights team, for developing young players on the international stage.

Peacock added: “I think the new structure is a great idea and I am really pleased that the RFL have come up with right system to develop our young players. We are not Australia, who have a massive pool of players to select from, we have a smaller pool and we have to expose those players who are talented enough to international competition.”