Huddersfield Giants duo Tyler Dickinson and Mikey Wood have been named in a 20-man England Academy squad to face France in a one-off Test match at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Castleford next Friday (May 16, 6.30pm).

Also included in the squad is Warrington Wolves’ former Meltham All Blacks junior Mikey Wood, although England and Giants captain Matty English is ruled out through injury.

The final squad was selected by England coach John Winder, who oversaw two weekend training camps in Sheffield with his 36-man squad in preparation for the Test and admitted it was tough trying to select his final 20.

“It was very tough, which is a great reflection on the depth of talent we have in this country,” said Winder, who will take his squad into a four-day camp on Tuesday, May 13 using the facilities at Featherstone Rovers.

“Injuries played a part, but there are a few guys we want to have a look at who are new to the England Academy programme

“We will work hard as a group in camp so that we can see what works and what doesn’t. It’s about getting the players on the same page and honing the aspects on how we want to perform.

“In the last few series the England Youth and Academy sides have done well against France. They are a little bit of an unknown quantity but you would expect the French to be physical and play with passion.

“We have a few guys who played them two years ago so I would imagine that there will be a few of the same players who played in that series.”

The match represents the first opportunity for the Academy players to impress Winder on the international stage ahead of the eagerly-anticipated two-Test series against the Australia Secondary School Rugby League (ASSRL) in December.

“It is a long way off, but the players are genuinely excited about it,” said Winder. “It is a privilege to be able to play Australia at any age group.

“We’ve only had seven or eight rounds of the Academy season and we are having a couple more training camps and a couple more Tests before we decide on a squad for the Australia series, so there will be some chopping and changing until then.”

The England Academy is as follows (professional and community clubs in brackets): Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos, Thatto Heath), David Hewitt (St Helens, Bold Miners), David Thompson (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks), Elliot Minchella (Leeds Rhinos, West Bowling), Gabriel Fell (Wigan Warriors, Ince Rose Bridge), George Milton (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders), Harry Tyson Wilson (Hull FC, West Hull), Jack Downs (Hull FC, Cottingham Tigers), Jack Johnson (Warrington Wolves, Saddleworth Rangers), Jake Shorrocks (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks), Jansin Turgut (Hull FC, West Hull), Luke Waterworth (Wigan Warriors, Ince Rose Bridge), Mikey Wood (Huddersfield Giants, Slaithwaite Saracens), Nick Gregson (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks), Oliver Davies (St Helens, Orrell St James), Oliver Gildart (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks), Toby King (Warrington Wolves, Meltham All Blacks), Tyler Dickinson (Huddersfield Giants, Siddal), Will Maher (Castleford Tigers, Ulverston/RFL Cumbria Academy).

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