Ex-Maori All Black joins 8 capped players in 30-man England A squad

Former M?ori All Black Max Hicks has been named in a 30-man England A training squad ahead of Friday’s meeting with Argentina XV at The Rec.

The Newcastle Red Bulls hybrid flanker/lock is one of six players included in Mark Mapletoft’s A set-up for the first time, alongside Lucas Friday, Alex O’Driscoll, James Pater, Will Knight and Will Trenholm.

New Zealand-born Hicks joined Newcastle from Perpignan during the summer and qualifies for England through his Cornish mother. The former Highlanders forward has since established himself in the Red Bulls pack during his first Gallagher PREM campaign.

Bristol Bears back-row Fitz Harding will captain the side for a second time after leading England A to a 29-25 victory over Spain last year.

Mapletoft has also been able to call upon eight senior England internationals in Jamie Blamire, Charlie Atkinson, Noah Caluori, Joe Carpenter, George Kloska, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh and Ethan Roots.

Blamire is the most experienced of that group with seven Test caps, while Exeter Chiefs back-row Roots has four. Caluori, Kloska, Northmore and Ojomoh have two each, with Atkinson and Carpenter capped once.

Current England U20 players Pater and Knight have also been selected, while recent age-grade graduates Caluori and Friday continue their progression through the pathway.

In total, 19 members of the squad have previously represented England at either U18 or U20 level.

England A face Argentina XV at The Rec on Friday, November 6, with kick-off at 19:45.

England A training squad

Forwards: Ben Bamber, Joe Batley, Jamie Blamire, Afolabi Fasogbon, Fitz Harding (c), Max Hicks, Will Hobson, Nathan Jibulu, Jack Kenningham, George Kloska, Tom Lockett, Alex O’Driscoll, Sam Riley, Ethan Roots, Will Trenholm, Archie van der Flier.

Backs: Charlie Atkinson, Orlando Bailey, Noah Caluori, Joe Carpenter, Tobias Elliott, Caolan Englefield, Lucas Friday, George Hendy, Will Knight, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh, James Pater, Billy Searle, Will Wand.