The RFL

Team Manager Francis Stephenson has hailed the "professionalism and character" of the England Academy Under 18 squad following the completion of their tour of Australia.
 
During their time Down Under, the England side recorded a 24-20 victory over a very strong Brisbane Broncos select side.  They then suffered a 68 - 6 defeat in their first junior international match against the Australian Schoolboys and completed their campaign by producing a strong team performance in the return encounter against the Aussies a week later -  only to go down narrowly by 17 points to 10.
 
The England Academy team's points came via tries from Greg McNally and Jason Crookes. Paul McShane kicked one goal.  The England also side had to cope with two sin binnings during the match and had two tries disallowed.
 
And Francis Stephenson said that the team showed great character and professionalism by responding so well to the adversity they suffered in the second game of the tour and also by conducting themselves very well at all times.
 
"The response of the players to the first test defeat was very pleasing", he commented.
 
"They trained and prepared extremely well in the build-up to the second game against Australian Schoolboys and showed great dedication and professionalism."
 
"In the second Test the performance was a massive improvement and far more reflective of their abilities. They also had some bad luck in the game and certainly demonstrated their potential as future elite players and as future international players".
 
Stephenson concluded, "We come away from Australia with a victory over a very strong Brisbane side, a defeat that all the squad were extremely dissatisfied with and a strong collective effort against some very good opposition.  Overall we are pleased that the England players showed great character and dedication throughout the tour and we believe this will serve them well during the rest rest of their Rugby League careers."

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