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England A national rugby union team

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox rugby team

| image = England rugby textlogo.svg

| imagesize = 180

| teamname = England A

| logo =

| union = Rugby Football Union

| nickname =

| captain = Jack van Poortvliet
(February 2025)

| coach = Lee Blackett
(February 2025)

| caps =

| top scorer =

| pattern_la1 = _England_rugby_2021_h

| pattern_b1 = _England_rugby_2021_h

| pattern_ra1 = _England_rugby_2021_h

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_so1 = _whitetop

| leftarm1 = FFFFFF

| body1 = FFFFFF

| rightarm1 = FFFFFF

| shorts1 = FFFFFF

| socks1 = 00004A

| pattern_la2 = _englandrugby21a

| pattern_b2 = _englandrugby21a

| pattern_ra2 = _englandrugby21a

| pattern_sh2 =

| pattern_so2 =

| leftarm2 =

| body2 =

| rightarm2 =

| shorts2 = 000040

| socks2 = 000040

| first = {{flagicon|England}} England XV 29–0 {{ru|CAN}}
(30 September 1967)

| bigwin = {{flagicon|England}} England A 91–5 {{ru|POR|name=Portugal XV}}
(25 February 2024)

| bigloss = {{flagicon|England}} England Saxons 0–35 {{ruA|SCO|name=Scotland A}}
(3 February 2012)

| no World cup apps =

| year =

| best =

}}

England A is England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England Saxons. England A play a key role in the development of emerging talent, allowing players to gain experience in an international environment and to show that they have the ability to perform at Test level for the England first team. England A were unbeaten for 13 games until losing to Ireland A, now known as Ireland Wolfhounds, in the 2009 Churchill Cup Final on 21 June 2009.

England A was one of three sides that regularly competed in the now-defunct annual Churchill Cup competition, the others being the full national teams of Canada and the United States. From 2006 onwards, they also regularly played two matches against other European countries in parallel with the full Six Nations Championship.

History

England's second team was known as England B until 1992, when it was renamed as England A. In 2000, as part of its long-term strategic plan, the RFU re-examined the role of the 'second team' and decided that a change of name was desirable. Several names were considered – for example, England Aces and England Bloods – before the name England Saxons was chosen from a short-list of possibles. The change of name took effect from mid-May 2006, just before the start of that year's Churchill Cup.

England Saxons participated in the Churchill Cup from its inception in 2003 until its demise following the 2011 edition. Under the final format, they played three games: two at the pool stage and one on finals day. The Saxons also played two matches each season against the other teams competing in the Six Nations Championship – (France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) – with the games being played on the same weekends as Six Nations test matches.

The team reverted to their traditional name of England A in May 2021.{{Cite news | title=England Saxons revert to England A | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57075751 | website=www.bbc.co.uk/sport | publisher=BBC Sport | date=11 May 2021 | access-date=11 May 2021 | language=en-GB}} The name change was made ahead of the team's planned return against Scotland A that summer, having been on an extended hiatus since its two-match series win over South Africa A in 2016.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2021/06/25/england-team-face-scotland-eleven-uncapped-players-new-captain/ | title=England 'A' team to face Scotland 'A': Eleven uncapped players, a new captain and two Saxons survivors | website=www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union | publisher=The Telegraph | date=25 June 2021 | access-date=12 February 2025}} However, this fixture was ultimately cancelled, due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Scotland squad.{{cite news | url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12342851/england-a-vs-scotland-a-called-off-due-to-covid-cases-in-the-scotland-squad | title=England A vs Scotland A called off due to Covid cases in the Scotland squad | website=www.skysports.com/rugby-union | publisher=Sky Sports | date=27 June 2021 | access-date=12 February 2025}}

In November 2023, it was announced that England A would make another revival the following spring, coinciding with the 2024 Six Nations.{{cite news | url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/385954/england-a-to-get-first-run-out-since-2016-against-portugal/ | title=England 'A' to get first run out since 2016 against Portugal | website=www.therugbypaper.co.uk | publisher=The Rugby Paper | date=7 November 2023 | access-date=12 February 2025}} In their first game in eight years, England A achieved their biggest ever win, defeating Portugal by 91–5 in February 2024.{{cite news | url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/cadan-murley-scores-hat-trick-as-england-a-thrash-portugal/ | title=England A take Portugal to the cleaners in Leicester | website=www.rugbypass.com | publisher=Rugby Pass | date=25 February 2024 | access-date=12 February 2025}} This marked the beginning of a more regular schedule of fixtures for the side, with another match against Australia A taking place in November of that year.{{cite news | url=https://www.cityam.com/england-a-beat-australia-a-at-twickenham-stoop/ | title=England A beat Australia A at Twickenham Stoop | website=www.cityam.com | publisher=City A.M. | date=17 November 2024 | access-date=12 February 2025}}

Concept

England A are seen as an integral part of the RFU's development process:{{cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/News/2006/May/News%20Articles/EnglandABecomesEnglandSaxons.aspx?a=1&y=2006 |title=England A becomes England Saxons |date=2006-05-18 |website=rfu.com |publisher=Rugby Football Union |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927174442/http://www.rfu.com/News/2006/May/News%20Articles/EnglandABecomesEnglandSaxons.aspx?a=1&y=2006 |archive-date=27 September 2012 |df=dmy }}

{{blockquote|England Saxons is a key part of the development pathway to the senior side...

The future success of rugby in England depends, to a large extent, on the next best 15 players.

England A will give up and coming players a platform to perform in an international environment and to show that they can make the step up when required.|Andy Robinson (England head coach), 18 May 2006}}

England A games do not count as full England internationals, regardless of the opposition, as players are not capped. However, the governing body of a lower-tier nation may grant full national caps when its senior side plays the Saxons—for example, USA Rugby awarded official Test caps for the USA team's matches against the Saxons in 2008. If the opposition awards Test caps for a match, it counts fully in Test statistics for the capping nation, though not for England.

Recent results

The following is a list of England A's recent match results, since the team's revival in February 2024, as well as upcoming scheduled fixtures:

{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFFF|Upcoming|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

----

{{Rugbybox collapsible2

|date = 25 February 2024

|time = 13:00 GMT (UTC+0)

|home = {{RuA-rt|ENG|name=England A}}

|score = 91–5

|report = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68398976 Report]

|away = {{Ru|POR|name=Portugal XV}}

|try1 = Blamire 2' m
Pearson 5' m
Barbeary 13' m
Tuima 18' c
Muir 24' c
Murley (3) 28' c, 71' m, 75' m
Hodge 33' c
Ojomoh 40' c
Penalty try 41'
Riley 52' m
Shillcock 57' m
Beard 62' c
Fisilau 67' c

|con1 = Hodge (5/6) 19', 25', 29', 34', 40+1'
Shillcock (2/5) 63', 68'

|pen1 =

|drop1 =

|cards1 =

|try2 = Vareiro 59' m

|con2 =

|pen2 =

|drop2 =

|cards2 = Vareiro {{sin bin|18|28}}

|lineup1 = England A:
Forwards – 1. Baxter 2. Blamire 3. Heyes 4. Tuima 5. Ewels (c) 6. Pearson 7. Pepper 8. Barbeary
Backs – 9. Randall 10. Atkinson 11. Muir 12. Ojomoh 13. Beard 14. Murley 15. Hodge
Substitutes – 16. Riley 17. Haffar 18. Iosefa-Scott 19. Bamber 20. Fisilau 21. Englefield 22. Shillcock 23. Hartley

|lineup2 = Portugal XV:
Forwards – 1. Arrojado 2. Vicente 3. Prim 4. Andrade 5. Fernandes 6. Ribeiro 7. F. Almeida 8. Roque
Backs – 9. Pinto 10. Vareiro 11. J. Cortes 12. Nobre 13. Leite 14. Gomes 15. A. Almeida
Substitutes – 16. Da Cunha 17. Rodrigues 18. Turabelidze 19. Batista 20. Cabaco 21. B. Almeida 22. D. Cortes 23. Da Camara

|stadium = Welford Road, Leicester

|attendance = 15,123

|referee = Luc Ramos (France)

|result = W

}}

----

{{Rugbybox collapsible2

|date = 17 November 2024

|time = 14:00 GMT (UTC+0)

|home = {{RuA-rt|ENG|name=England A}}

|score = 38–17

|report = [https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-media/england-a-overpower-australia-a Report]

|away = {{RuA|AUS}}

|try1 = Heyes 6' m
Murley (2) 42' m, 77' c
Langdon 56' c
Fisilau 61' c
Muir 67' c

|con1 = Atkinson (2/4) 57', 62'
Shillcock (2/2) 68', 78'

|pen1 =

|drop1 =

|cards1 =

|try2 = Reimer 9' c
Van Nek 65' c

|con2 = Lynagh (1/1) 10'
McLaughlin-Phillips (1/1) 66'

|pen2 = Lynagh (1/1) 30'

|drop2 =

|cards2 =

|lineup1 = England A:
Forwards – 1. Opoku-Fordjour 2. Oghre 3. Heyes 4. Tizard 5. Clark 6. Pearson 7. Pollock 8. Willis
Backs – 9. Porter 10. Atkinson 11. Ibitoye 12. Dingwall (c) 13. Beard 14. Murley 15. Carpenter
Substitutes – 16. Langdon 17. Iyogun 18. Fasogbon 19. Tuima 20. Fisilau 21. McParland 22. Shillcock 23. Muir

|lineup2 = Australia A:
Forwards – 1. Hoopert 2. Nasser 3. De Lutiis 4. Smith 5. Canham 6. Hooper 7. Reimer 8. Brial
Backs – 9. R. Lonergan (c) 10. Lynagh 11. Lancaster 12. Stewart 13. Walton 14. Toole 15. Campbell
Substitutes – 16. L. Lonergan 17. Lambert 18. Van Nek 19. Blyth 20. Scott 21. Fines-Leleiwasa 22. McLaughlin-Phillips 23. Sapsford

|stadium = Twickenham Stoop, London

|attendance =

|referee = Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

|result = W

}}

----

{{Rugbybox collapsible2

|date = 23 February 2025

|time = 13:00 GMT (UTC+0)

|home = {{RuA-rt|ENG|name=England A}}

|score = 28–12

|report = [https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-media/england-a-defeat-ireland-a-wet-ashton-gate Report]

|away = {{RuA|IRE|name=Ireland A}}

|try1 = Hassell-Collins 13' c
Van Poortvliet 25' c
Fisilau 74' c
Penalty try 80'

|con1 = Atkinson (2/2) 14', 26'
Shillcock (1/1) 75'

|pen1 =

|drop1 =

|cards1 =

|try2 = Bolton 17' m
Gavin 76' c

|con2 = Doak (1/1) 77'

|pen2 =

|drop2 =

|cards2 = Deegan {{sin bin|80|end}}

|lineup1 = England A:
Forwards – 1. Brantingham 2. Langdon (vc) 3. Kloska 4. Tizard 5. Lockett 6. Pearson 7. Kenningham 8. Barbeary
Backs – 9. Van Poortvliet (c) 10. Atkinson 11. Hassell-Collins 12. Butt 13. Ojomoh 14. Elliott 15. Carpenter
Substitutes – 16. Oghre 17. Haffar 18. Green 19. Capstick 20. Fisilau 21. Porter 22. Shillcock 23. Hendy

|lineup2 = Ireland A:
Forwards – 1. O'Toole 2. Barron 3. Aungier 4. O'Connell 5. Murray 6. Deegan (c) 7. Kendellen 8. Jansen
Backs – 9. Doak 10. Frawley 11. Bolton 12. Gavin 13. Postlethwaite 14. O'Brien 15. Daly
Substitutes – 16. Smyth 17. McCarthy 18. Jager 19. O'Tighearnaigh 20. Soroka 21. Gunne 22. Byrne 23. Gleeson

|stadium = Ashton Gate, Bristol

|attendance =

|referee = Ben Breakspear (Wales)

|result = W

}}

----

{{Rugbybox collapsible2

|date = 21 June 2025

|time = 15:15 BST (UTC+1)

|home = {{RuA-rt|ENG|name=England A}}

|score =

|report =

|away = {{RuA|FRA}}

|try1 =

|con1 =

|pen1 =

|drop1 =

|cards1 =

|try2 =

|con2 =

|pen2 =

|drop2 =

|cards2 =

|lineup1 =

|lineup2 =

|stadium = Allianz Stadium, London

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

----

Squad

On 12 February 2025, a provisional 25-player squad was named in preparation for England A's fixture against Ireland A, taking place later that month, alongside the 2025 Six Nations.{{cite news | url=https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-media/england-a-squad-announced-ahead-of-ireland-a-game | title=England A squad announced ahead of Ireland A game | website=www.englandrugby.com | publisher=England Rugby | date=12 February 2025 | access-date=12 February 2025}}

{{small|Note: Players capped at senior international level are listed in bold.
Caps and clubs correct as of: 23 February 2025.}}

{{nat rs start|hidenote=yes}}

{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name={{sortname|Curtis|Langdon}} (vc)|age={{Birth date and age|1997|8|3|df=y}}|caps=2|club=Northampton Saints|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name={{sortname|Gabriel|Oghre}}|age={{Birth date and age|1998|5|25|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Bristol Bears|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Phil|Brantingham}}|age={{Birth date and age|2001|10|2|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Saracens|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Luke|Green|dab=rugby union}}|age={{Birth date and age|2001|5|6|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Northampton Saints|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Tarek|Haffar}}|age={{Birth date and age|2001|9|13|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Northampton Saints|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|George|Kloska}}|age={{Birth date and age|1999|11|16|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Bristol Bears|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Richard|Capstick}}|age={{Birth date and age|2000|2|13|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Exeter Chiefs|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Tom|Lockett}}|age={{Birth date and age|2002|10|6|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Northampton Saints|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Hugh|Tizard}}|age={{Birth date and age|2000|3|31|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Saracens|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Alfie|Barbeary}}|age={{Birth date and age|2000|10|5|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Bath|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Greg|Fisilau}}|age={{Birth date and age|2003|7|9|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Exeter Chiefs|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Jack|Kenningham}}|age={{Birth date and age|1999|11|19|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Harlequins|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Tom|Pearson|dab=rugby union, born 1999}}|age={{Birth date and age|1999|10|26|df=y}}|caps=1|club=Northampton Saints|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=SH|name={{sortname|Will|Porter}}|age={{Birth date and age|1998|12|14|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Harlequins|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=SH|name={{sortname|Jack|van Poortvliet}} (c)|age={{Birth date and age|2001|5|15|df=y}}|caps=16|club=Leicester Tigers|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FH|name={{sortname|Charlie|Atkinson|dab=rugby union}}|age={{Birth date and age|2001|10|6|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Gloucester|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FH|name={{sortname|Orlando|Bailey}}|age={{Birth date and age|2001|9|30|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Bath|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Will|Butt}}|age={{Birth date and age|2000|1|15|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Bath|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Max|Ojomoh}}|age={{Birth date and age|2000|9|14|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Bath|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Joseph|Woodward|dab=rugby union}}|age={{Birth date and age|2003|9|17|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Leicester Tigers|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name={{sortname|Ollie|Hassell-Collins}}|age={{Birth date and age|1999|1|17|df=y}}|caps=2|club=Leicester Tigers|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name={{sortname|Tobias|Elliott}}|age={{Birth date and age|2003|9|16|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Saracens|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name={{sortname|Joe|Carpenter|dab=rugby union}}|age={{Birth date and age|2001|8|19|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Sale Sharks|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name={{sortname|George|Hendy}}|age={{Birth date and age|2002|10|15|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Northampton Saints|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name={{sortname|Josh|Hodge}}|age={{Birth date and age|2000|5|23|df=y}}|caps=0|club=Exeter Chiefs|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat rs end}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20090923210311/http://www.rfu.com/ RFU]
  • [http://www.swinglow.net/EnglandSaxons/ England Saxons Rugby News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118115731/http://www.swinglow.net/EnglandSaxons/ |date=18 January 2010 }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20110609045606/http://www.churchillcuprugby.net/leagues/front_pageChurchillCup.cfm?leagueID=10901&clientID=3731&link=ChurchillCup Churchill Cup]
  • [http://www.rugbyinternational.net/countries/england-xv.htm List of England XV/Counties/Saxons Official Games]

{{England national rugby union team}}

{{Rugby union in England}}

{{Churchill Cup}}

Saxons

Category:Second national rugby union teams