Leeds Rhinos forward Cameron Smith has been called up to the England Knights squad after two World Cup warm-up games were confirmed. Smith will be joined in the squad by Huddersfield Giants duo Owen Trout and Oliver Wilson and rising Wakefield winger Lewis Murphy.
It comes after two fixtures were confirmed for Paul Anderson's side in the build-up to the World Cup. The Knights will face France B in Bordeaux on Saturday October 1 before playing Scotland a week later as the Bravehearts prepare for the tournament.
“It’s great news for the Knights programme that we have two international matches as a focus for 2022," Anderson said. “Travelling to France and then Scotland in the space of a week will be exactly the sort of experience we want to give these players to prepare them for the different challenges of international rugby, especially with an eye on the 2025 World Cup in France.
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“Like Shaun Wane and his England coaching staff, we monitor performances in all Super League games, and that has led to the four additions to our 2022 squad. Lewis Murphy, Cameron Smith, Owen Trout and Oliver Wilson have all established themselves as quality Super League players, and we are pleased to welcome them to our group.”
Smith becomes the fourth Leeds player to be included in the squad, joining Morgan Gannon, Tom Holroyd and Liam Tindall. The loose forward has been a key cog in Leeds' revitalisation under Rohan Smith.
Murphy becomes the only Wakefield player in the squad while the Giants also now have four players, with Trout and Wilson joining Matty English and Will Pryce.
Only one player, Matty Ashton, has dropped out of the squad after making his senior debut in the game against the Combined Nations All Stars earlier this year. James McDonnell, who will join the Rhinos next season, is also included.
Jon Bennison (St Helens), Jack Broadbent (Leeds Rhinos), Jack Brown (Hull FC), Matt English (Huddersfield Giants), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Sam Halsall, Ethan Havard (both Wigan Warriors), Tom Holroyd (both Leeds Rhinos), Jordan Lane (Hull FC), Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten (both Hull KR), Ellis Longstaff (Warrington Wolves), James McDonnell (Wigan Warriors), Lewis Murphy (Wakefield Trinity), Matt Nicholson, Brad O’Neill, Oliver Partington (all Wigan Warriors), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants), Cameron Smith (Leeds Rhinos) Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies (both Wigan Warriors), Josh Thewlis (Warrington Wolves), Liam Tindall (Leeds Rhinos), Owen Trout (Huddersfield Giants), Jake Trueman (Castleford Tigers), Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), Matt Whitley (Catalans Dragons), Oliver Wilson (Huddersfield Giants) Jake Wingfield (St Helens), Connor Wrench (Warrington Wolves).
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