Preston Grasshoppers Senior Colt John Mackenzie will captain the England Counties Under 18’s on Saturday when his side start the International Triangular Festival against a France Under 18 team at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, kick-off 7.30pm.
John in action during his Mini/Junior days
Being chosen to lead your country is the ultimate honour for any player in team sport and everyone at the club is incredibly proud of John. John has been with Hoppers from the age of six and he has recently featured for the 2nd XV. His future certainly looks bright!
We managed to speak with John ahead of Saturday and he said “It’s an incredible honour to be in the team, never mind made captain. I owe a huge amount to this club and all it’s done for me and my development.”
John is joined in the starting line up by two of his Lancashire team mates. Jack Conteh starts at tight-head prop and Joseph Duffy lines up in the back row.
Good luck on Saturday John, the whole club is behind you.
Press Release
The following press release is taken from the englandrugby.com website.
John McKenzie of Lancashire will captain England Counties Under 18 in their opening match of the International Triangular Festival against a France Under 18 team at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire on Saturday 28 March (kick-off 7.30pm).
The lock, who plays for Runshaw College and the Preston Grasshoppers club, will lead a side that produced a spirited performance in their 33-5 defeat by Leicester Tigers Academy Under 19 at Oval Park last Saturday.
Back-row forward Max Hill, who missed the Leicester match with ankle injury, has recovered and has been named among the replacements along with centre Aaron Martin, who hobbled out of the Leicester match with a bang to an ankle.
England Counties Under 18 will face a France team selected from their regional academies and will bring the curtain down on the Festival when they play Ireland Clubs Under 18 at Hartpury on 4 April (kick-off 11am).
The French and Irish teams will meet at Hartpury in the second match of the Festival on 1 April (kick-off 2pm).
England Counties Under 18
15. James Spencer (Queen Elizabeth GS, Penrith RFC and Cumbria)
14. Myles Bean (King Edward VI School, Bedford Blues RFC and Warwickshire)
13. Connor Hayhow (St Paul’s School, Bracknell RFC and Berkshire)
12. William Newett (Leeds GS and Yorkshire)
11. Benjamin Usher (The Priory Academy, Newark RFC and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire),
10. James Shillcock (Warwick School, Worcester RFC and Warwickshire)
9. Ruaridh Dawson (Newcastle School for Boys, Blaydon RFC and Northumberland)
1. Harrison Berresford (Hautlieu School, Jersey RFC and Hampshire),
2. Tom Doughty (St Bartholomews School, Hove RFC and Sussex)
3. Jack Conteh (Myerscough College, Sale Sharks and Lancashire)
4. John McKenzie (captain, Runshaw College, Preston Grasshoppers RFC and Lancashire)
5. Joshua Novell (Bedes School, Crowborough RFC and Sussex)
6. Joseph Duffy (Myerscough College, Sale Sharks and Lancashire)
7. Matthew Palphreyman (Wirral GS, Wirral RFC and Cheshire)
8. Dylan Morris (Reed’s School, Wimbledon RFC and Surrey)
Replacements: John Whittaker (Sandbach School, Sandbach RFC and Cheshire), Owen MacCuish (Sandbach School, Sandbach RFC and Cheshire), Kiaran Knight (St Peter’s School, Matson RFC and Gloucestershire), Cameron Gray (The Oratory School, Maidenhead RFC and Berkshire), Justin Rowland (George Abbot School, Chobham RFC and Surrey), Max Hill (Worcester Sixth Form College, Malvern RFC and North Midlands), Jacob Atkins( St Pauls School, Bracknell RFC and Berkshire), Fergus Wood (Ardingly College, Hove RFC and Sussex), Aaron Martin (Bilton School, Bedford Blues RFC and Warwickshire).
