Seven Leeds youngsters named in England Academy squad to face Australian Schoolboys

Seven Leeds players have been named in the England Academy squad to face Australian Schoolboys at Leigh on Saturday.

England face the Kangaroos at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday afternoon, 2pm kick-off.

Leeds starlets Callum McLelland, Muzzi Mustapha, Corey Johnson, Harry Newman, Louis McConnell, Owen Trout and Tom Holroyd have all been included in the England side.

Wigan have five players in the 22-man squad – Ethan Havard, Harry Smith, James McDonnell, Joe Shorrocks and Morgan Smithies. St Helens have four representatives – Jack Welsby, Jake Wingfield, Josh Simm and Tom Nisbet.

Huddersfield are represented by Innes and Louis Senior, twin brothers who made their senior Super League debuts for the Giants in 2018, while Cameron Scott is the only player selected from the City of Hull Academy.

There has been one sour note in the build-up to the internationals for the England squad, with the shock news that the St Helens and Lancashire forward Joe Sharratt is in hospital after suffering serious injuries in a well-publicised incident in Manchester at the weekend.

Dave Elliott, the former Warrington forward who is involved in the England Academy set-up, said: “Joe is a popular and respected lad among the group who was exemplary in everything he did with the Lancashire squad last week, and he was a key figure in their team performing so well against the Australians.

“We’re all thinking of him, and I’d like to send our best wishes on behalf of the whole squad and everyone else at the Rugby Football League to Joe and his family.”

England Academy squad: Ben Davies (Widnes Vikings), Cameron Scott (City of Hull Academy), Corey Johnson (Leeds Rhinos), Callum McLelland (Leeds Rhinos), Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors), Innes Senior (Huddersfield Giants), Muzzi Mustapha (Leeds Rhinos), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Jake Wingfield (St Helens), James McDonnell (Wigan Warriors), Joe Shorrocks (Wigan Warriors), Josh Simm (St Helens), Louis McConnell (Leeds Rhinos), Louis Senior (Huddersfield Giants), Morgan Smithies (Wigan Warriors), Oliver Wilson (Bradford Bulls), Owen Trout (Leeds Rhinos), Sam Walters (Widnes Vikings), Tom Holroyd (Leeds Rhinos), Tom Nisbet (St Helens).