Duffy delight at England tour inclusion

May 22 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WATERLOO captain Jason Duffy has been selected for England Counties’ June tour to the USA and Canada.

England Counties XV, the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Guinness Premiership, will once again provide genuine national representation on its three-match tour with 13 counties and 17 clubs represented in the squad of 26 players. The side will play two games against USA A in New York (June 6-9, kick-off 7pm local time) and a Canada Select XV in Chatham (June 13, 6.30pm local time).

For Duffy who has played for England Schools and both U16 and U18 levels this is his first international representative honour and joins the likes of Neil Kerfoot and Martin O’Keefe who were on the last ‘Counties’ tour. Unfortunately with both players suffering long-term injuries they were not able to be considered.

“I am absolutely ecstatic whilst at the same time a bit apprehensive and nervous,” he said. “However after a tough season here at Waterloo I can’t wait to get on the plane.

“Hopefully playing at a higher level against good opposition I will come back a better player,” he added.

Along with Duffy, Lancashire will also be represented by Oliver Brennand (Fylde), James Doherty (Wharfedale), Sebastian Moss (Lancashire) and Petrus du Plessis (Sedgley Park)

Full squad: Backs: Gavin Beasley (Northumberland/Tynedale) Oliver Brennand (Lancashire/Fylde) Benjamin Coulbeck (Cheshire/Manchester) James Doherty (Lancashire/Wharfedale) Jason Duffy (Lancashire/Waterloo) Thomas Jarvis (Gloucestershire/Stourbridge) Matthew Jess (Cornwall/Launceston) Nathan Jones (Warwickshire/Coventry) Scott Rawlings (Staffordshire/-Manchester) Richard Wainwright (Yorkshire/Manchester) Andre Wilson (Cheshire/Manchester) Oliver Winter (North Midlands/Moseley) Forwards: Philip Boulton (Warwickshire/Bedford Blues) Daniel Collier (Middlesex/London Welsh) Alex Davidson (North Midlands/Pertemps Bees) Michael Denbee (Somerset/Plymouth Albion) Mark Evans (North Midlands/Moseley) Daniel Hyde (Yorkshire/Otley) James Kellard (Kent/Blackheath) Timothy Mathias (Devon/Plymouth) Sebastian Moss (Lancashire/Manchester) Matthew Owen (Cheshire/Manchester) Petrus du Plessis (Lancashire/Sedgley Park) Christopher Whitehead (Warwickshire/Coventry) Johnathan Williams (Northumberland/Tynedale) Liam Wordley (Staffordshire/Henley).