While Gloucester Rugby does not have representatives in the senior England squad this Autumn, the club proudly has four players named in the 30-man England A squad preparing to face the All Blacks XV this weekend. This number would have been five if centre Will Joseph had not suffered an injury.
Gloucester’s vice-captains, centre Seb Atkinson and lock Arthur Clark, both of whom earned their first senior England caps during the summer tour of Argentina, are currently sidelined with knee and foot injuries and unavailable for selection.
However, England A head coach Mark Mapletoft has called up promising front-row prop Afolabi Fasogbon and fellow prop Ciaran Knight. Knight has enjoyed a breakthrough year at club level, filling an injury-induced gap in Gloucester’s front row. The 27-year-old, capable of playing on both sides of the scrum, is poised to make his senior representative rugby debut if selected this weekend.
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Joining them in the England A backline are Charlie Atkinson, who also earned his first senior England cap this summer against the USA, and half-back Caolan Englefield. Both have previous experience with the development national team and will benefit from the guidance of Gloucester’s back and attacks coach James Lightfoot Brown.
The England A squad is captained by Bristol Bears lock Joe Batley and features a mix of uncapped talent and players with senior experience, including Jamie Blamire, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Max Ojomoh, Tom Pearson, Ethan Roots, and Adam Radwan. Notably, 24 of the selected players have risen through the England Men’s Player Pathway, with several having recently won the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Coach Mapletoft commented: “We have assembled a dynamic group of young players eager to excel in the red rose jersey. Congratulations to all selected players and staff. Last season, ten of our England A players went on to make their senior debuts—these fixtures are crucial for England’s rugby future. Our connection between age-grade and senior levels is stronger than ever, and we are committed to building on that progress in the coming weeks.”
The match kicks off at 1.15pm on Saturday at the Recreation Ground.