Jack Hughes to captain England Knights on tour of Papua New Guinea
Jack Hughes has been named skipper of the England Knights squad, which includes four players from Warrington and Leeds.
The 26-year-old has been appointed skipper of the Knights who will head to Papua New Guinea via Brisbane for a two-match Test series against the Kumuls later this month.
A former junior of Golborne Parkside, Hughes is joined by three of his Warrington team-mates who played in the Challenge Cup Final in August – Toby King, Harvey Livett and Joe Philbin – in the first Knights squad that has been selected since they faced Samoa in 2013.
Leeds also have four players in the 24-man squad – Jack Walker, Ash Handley, Liam Sutcliffe and Mikolaj Oledzki.
Wigan Warriors and Hull FC each have three players in the squad; Castleford Tigers, Hull Kingston Rovers and Widnes Vikings two each; and Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity one each.
Knights coach Paul Anderson said: “I’m as excited about the squad as I am about the trip.
“When you add it to the England squad that was named earlier this week for the autumn internationals, it shows we’ve got a real depth of talent coming through.
“Playing in Papua New Guinea is going to be a completely different experience for all the players in our squad. That off-field touring experience is one of the reasons reviving the Knights was so important.
“We’re expecting a warm welcome in a country where they love their rugby league, and hopefully our visit will also be a boost for rugby league in PNG.
“The lads have already seen from the elevation of Joe Greenwood and Reece Lyne from the Knights squad to the senior England squad the sort of opportunities that could open up if they impress on this trip.”
England Knights squad for 2018 Papua New Guinea tour:
Oliver Holmes (Castleford Tigers, Normanton Knights)
Greg Minikin (Castleford Tigers)
Kruise Leeming (Huddersfield Giants, Siddal)
Chris Atkin (Hull KR, Liverpool John Moores University)
Robbie Mulhern (Hull KR, Normanton Knights)
Jamie Shaul (Hull FC, Skirlaugh)
Dean Hadley (Hull FC, Skirlaugh)
Brad Fash (Hull FC, West Hull)
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Warriors)
Liam Sutcliffe (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Warriors)
Jack Walker (Leeds Rhinos, East Leeds)
Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)
Danny Richardson (St Helens, Halton Hornets)
Matt Lees (St Helens, Rochdale Mayfield)
James Batchelor (Wakefield Trinity, Crigglestone All Blacks)
Sam Powell (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
Oliver Gildart (Wigan Warriors, Chorley Panthers)
Tom Davies (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
Harvey Livett (Warrington Wolves, Rylands Sharks)
Jack Hughes (Warrington Wolves, Golborne Parkside)
Joe Philbin (Warrington Wolves, Culcheth Eagles)
Toby King (Warrington Wolves, Meltham All Backs)
Matt Whitley (Widnes Vikings, Bold Miners)
Danny Walker (Widnes Vikings, Rylands Sharks)