PGRFC are delighted to announce that back row forward Connor Murphy has been selected in the North Under 20’s squad for this weekend’s Inter-Divisional Championship. The championship acts as a selection process for the England Counties Under 20’s squad. Connor is rewarded for some strong displays for Lancashire in their Under 20’s campaign which saw them go unbeaten in the pool games with comfortable wins over Cumbria and Cheshire.
Conor scores against Kendal, photo courtesy of Mike Craig
They then beat Northumberland in the northern area semi-final before a rude awakening in the final against Yorkshire saw them lose heavily. As a result Yorkshire supply 13 of the 22 players who will be in action in the North squad over the coming Easter weekend.
Speaking on the selection Gareth Dyer said “Connor has been rewarded for an excellent club season with his selection first for the County and then further recognition for the North. He has really developed as the season as gone on and has worked very hard as part of our squad this season. We hope he can do himself justice over the coming weekend and force his way into the full England Counties U20 squad. It would be well deserved if he could as he is a quiet unassuming guy who just gets on with playing his rugby to the best of his ability”.
The England selectors will announce their squad on Tuesday 10th April for the upcoming game against Scotland Under 20’s at St. Andrew’s on 4th May.
Hoppers had a number of players in the Lancashire U20 squad at different times with Alistair Murray, John Wells, Josh Purnell and Chris Tribley involved in the campaign. “The lads did themselves, the club and the Red Rose proud but I know they were all very disappointed with the Yorkshire game. The lads are all benefiting from getting 1st XV rugby and good coaching at the club and there are several lads already in the 1st XV who could be involved in next season’s Under 20 squad. Hopefully they will be able to exact some revenge on the White Rose!” said Dyer.
