It has two overriding benefits. It will help to redress the shortage of matches with tier two nations, who need the competitive step up provided by tier one nations to boost their development. At the same time it will also benefit English rugby by addressing the lack of playing experience at international level for promising players and coaches, selected from the Premiership, and hopefully the Championship.
The first match since the Saxons 2016 tour of South Africa - in which they won the series 2-0 against South Africa A - will be against Portugal during the 2024 Six Nations, when they face Os Lobos at Welford Road on February 25, the day after England meet Scotland at Murrayfield.
Playing against a Portugal team that scored a stylish first World Cup win over quarter-finalists Fiji should provide promising players like Newcastle winger Adam Radwan and Northampton flanker Tom Pearson a chance to press their cases for more full caps. It should also be a key platform for addressing the staggering neglect since 2019, and before, of developing a new generation of England props who are first and foremost Test-standard scrummagers.
Unfortunately, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney allowed Eddie Jones to not only pocket a huge salary, but also spend so much on his England squad expansion that they shelved the national second team, and the benefits it brought - until now.
It smacks of a PR exercise by an RFU hierarchy which has lost public support through pedantic virtue-signalling of which the decision to axe 'Saxons' as a non-inclusive name and revert to 'A', is just one example.
It highlights a much bigger failing within this RFU administration of a complete disconnect with large parts of the English rugby public. This has been evident in over 20,000 empty seats at Twickenham for the World Cup warm-up against Fiji, and also a fall in numbers at matches in the ring-fenced Premiership so far this season.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 12, 2023-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 12, 2023-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
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Sleightholme shows he has pace to burn
OLLIE Sleightholme recently clocked his fastest sprint time and is racing to cement his spot as an England starter.
McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
EXETER fly-half Olivia McGoverne has opted for club over country which will rule her out of contention for New Zealand’s World Cup bid in 2025.
Trinity aim to get the culture right
HIGH-FLYING Trinity have made a remarkable turnaround this season after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, heading into this weekend unbeaten and are now eyeing up promotion from Level 7.
YOUNG GUNS
Louie Gulley experienced the environment of England U20s’ World Championship triumph up close this summerand now has a burning desire to become an age-grade star. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker was part of Mark Mapletoft’s squad but didn’t manage to make an appearance during the tournament.
The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
CAMBORNE maintained their lead at the top of the table with a bonus-point win against their nearest challengers in a pulsating game.
A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher
A highly entertaining and enthralling contest between two sides fighting at the foot of the table was eventually won by Esher after the lead had changed no less than seven times throughout an absorbing afternoon.
Chiefs in hunt for new investment
TONY Rowe has confirmed the search for new investors into Exeter Chiefs has begun as he looks to safeguard the longterm future of the Premiership club.
McParland keen to shine for England A
NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland feels he has returned a better player following a nasty injury that denied him a World Cup winners medal and is now ready to fly into a new opportunity with England A.
Undercard get chance to show their A-game
ENGLAND’S A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard provide the opposition at The Stoop.
England look like a clueless rabble
I WATCHED with a growing sense of bewilderment as England yet again took to the field against Australia looking to all intents and purpose as if they had just been introduced to each other on the coach into Twickenham.
