Head coach Paul Anderson has named a 27-strong England Knights Performance Squad (KPS) to prepare for international competition later this year.
Players from nine Betfred Super League clubs are represented, with eight of them included in the Knights set up for the first time.
England Knights Head Coach, Paul Anderson, says: “Most of these players have come through the England Pathways programme, which is all about investing in the future of England Rugby League. Our job is to prepare our future full internationals for the next step – the senior international team.
“The Knights is about developing talent, preparing well and competing hard. With that in mind, we want as many as possible to come through our talent pathway and force themselves in contention for England selections, and ultimately win world cups.”
Discussions around Knights fixtures ahead of the Rugby League World Cup are underway, and Knights players will have three ‘off feet’ meetings this summer (May, July, August) where England performance standards will be discussed.
England Knights squad (* denotes new selection)
Matt Ashton (Warrington Wolves), Jon Bennison* (St Helens), Jack Broadbent (Leeds Rhinos), Jack Brown* (Hull FC), Matt English (Huddersfield Giants), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Sam Halsall, Ethan Havard (both Wigan Warriors), Tom Holroyd (both Leeds Rhinos), Jordan Lane (Hull FC), Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten* (both Hull KR), Ellis Longstaff (Warrington Wolves), James McDonnell, Matt Nicholson*, Brad O’Neill*, Oliver Partington (all Wigan Warriors), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants), Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies (both Wigan Warriors), Josh Thewlis* (Warrington Wolves), Liam Tindall* (Leeds Rhinos), Jake Trueman (Castleford Tigers), Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), Matt Whitley (Catalans Dragons), Jake Wingfield* (St Helens), Connor Wrench (Warrington Wolves)