England Saxons today named the side for their opening Churchill Cup game against the USA at Northampton on Saturday (Noon Eastern).

There are only two survivors from the team that beat Canada 38-18 to claim the trophy in New Jersey last summer with scrum half Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons) in the starting line-up and full back Alex Goode (Saracens) on the bench.

But Saxons head coach Stuart Lancaster has an exciting combination of youth and experience to call on. Saracens prop Matt Stevens (32 caps) is the most experienced of six senior internationals while Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby) and Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs) made try-scoring first apperances for England in the non-cap game won 38-32 by the Barbarians last weekend.

Lock Mouritz Botha makes his first Saxons appearance a week after winning the Aviva Premiership title with Saracens while Amlin Challenge Cup winner Rory Clegg (Harlequins) steps up to start at fly half for the first time.

England Saxons captain Luke Narraway sits out the Churchill Cup's opening game to receive treatment on a calf injury and Leicester Tigers No.8 Jordan Crane will lead the side in his place.

Lancaster said: "We want to make sure win this trophy again and to do so we've got to win some tough games starting off with the USA and Tonga, both of whom are gearing up for the World Cup later this year.

"But we've got a good mix of players including seven of those who did well against an experienced Barbarians side at Twickenham and there are more players who've joined us after taking part in big club games at the end of the domestic season.

"There's lots at stake for all of them, whether they're pushing for places in this World Cup this year or the next one in 2015, but the most important thing is to get off to a good start against what we're expecting to be a very smart USA side on Saturday."

After taking on the USA, England Saxons play Tonga at Gloucester on June 12 followed by Italy A, Russia or Canada on the June 18 finals day at Worcester.


England Saxons

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins)
14 Topsy Ojo (London Irish)
13 Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
11 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors)
10 Rory Clegg (Harlequins)
9 Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)
1 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
2 Joe Gray (Harlequins)
3 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
5 Dave Attwood (Gloucester Rugby)
6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
7 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
8 Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers, captain)

16 David Paice (London Irish)
17 Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
18 Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors)
19 Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
21 Alex Goode (Saracens)
22 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)

BOULDER, Colo. — Conference Players of the Year Danny Barrett (Cal), Ryan Roundy (BYU), Cam Dolan (Life), Pat Sullivan (Arkansas State) and Ben Leatigaga (Army) headline the College Premier Division Coaches’ All-Conference Teams announced today by USA Rugby. 

Of the 60 players named in RUGBYMag.com's All-Conference list, 41 were named in the coaches'. The RUGBYMag.com list only included 15 players, while the coaches selected an eight-man bench.

2011 College Premier Division Players of the Year

Rugby East: Ben Leatigaga, Army

Mid-South: Cam Dolan, Life & Pat Sullivan, Arkansas St.

Western: Ryan Roundy, BYU

Pacific: Danny Barrett, Cal

2011 College Premier Division All-Conference Teams

Ninety-two players from four conferences earned College Premier Division All-Conference honors in 2011.

Where They’re From: The 2011 College Premier Division All-Conference Teams feature players from 24 states and eight countries.

State Breakdown

23- California

8- Utah

6- Pennsylvania

5- Washington

4- Louisiana, New York,

3- Connecticut, Tennessee

2- Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Virginia

1- Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin

 
Country Breakdown

80- USA

6- South Africa

1- Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Tonga

Class Breakdown

Seniors- 49

Juniors- 24

Sophomores- 13

Freshmen- 6

2011 All-Rugby East Team

Pos. Name                            School              Cl.    Ht.     Wt.   Hometown

1: Jim Roblin                  Rutgers            Jr.    6-0    250  Hammonton, N.J.
2: Jamie Gregory            Kutztown         So.   6-0    225  Reading, United Kingdom
3: Andrew Hansche         Army               Sr.    6-0    215  Kenosha, Wis.
4: Chase Burge               Navy               Sr.    6-5    250  Rushville, Ohio
5: Chris Mullen               Delaware         Jr.    6-3    215  Basking Ridge, N.J.
6: Paul Jarvis                 Dartmouth       Jr.    5-11   210  Riverside, Conn.
7: Seamus Siefring          Navy               So.   6-0    210  North Olmstead, Ohio
8: Sean Rohrs                Navy               Sr.    6-0    200  Annapolis, Md.
9: Derek Fish                 Dartmouth       Jr.    5-6    160  Madison, Conn.
10: Joe Baker                  Penn St.           Jr.    5-9    180  West Chester, Pa.
11: Ben Leatigaga            Army               Sr.    6-0    215  Newport News, Va.
12: Will Holder                 Army               So.   6-2    205  Palo Alto, Calif.
13: Buster Ousley             Navy               Sr.    6-0    185  Philadelphia, Pa.
14: Chris Downer              Dartmouth       Sr.    5-10   185  Stamford, Conn.
15: Tim Acker                  Kutztown         Jr.    5-8    170  Buckingham, Pa.
16: Tommy Brothers         Dartmouth       Sr.    6-0    180  Ottawa, Canada
17: Tim Dean                  Army               Sr.    5-8    205  Alexandria, Va.
18: Chris Karas                Penn St.           Jr.    5-7    200  Kennett Square, Pa.
19: Jim Kowalski              Delaware         Jr.    5-8    175  Manhattan, N.Y.
20: Jason Retter               Navy               Sr.    6-2    230  Apollo, Pa.
21: Chris Saint                 Penn St.           Sr.    5-9    175  Gaithersburg, Md.
22: Steve Sanchez            Delaware         So.   6-0    215  Brooklyn, N.Y.
23: Latu Vaha’i                 Army               Sr.    5-10   180  Nukualofa, Tonga

2011 All-Mid-South Conference Team

Pos. Name                            School              Cl.    Ht.     Wt.   Hometown

1: Roan Farr                  Arkansas St.     Sr.    6-2    230  Cape Town, South Africa
2: Scott McDonald          Life                 Sr.    5-11   225  Grand Rapids, Mich.
3: Jake Mizell                 Arkansas St.     So.   6-0    230  Keller, Texas
4: Joel Fugate                Tennessee       Sr.    6-3    220  Brentwood, Tenn.
5: Chris Parker               Texas A&M       Sr.    6-4    235  Katy, Texas
6: Garrett Lambert          Life                 Sr.    6-2    215  White Fish, Mont.
7: Shaun Potgeiter          Arkansas St.     So.   6-1    220  Port Elizabeth, South Africa
8: Cam Dolan                 Life                 So    6-5    230  Naples, Fla.
9: Yoshiyasu Abe            Arkansas St.     Fr.    5-6    160  Osaka, Japan
10: Pat Sullivan                Arkansas St.     Jr.    6-4    240  Mokena, Ill.
11: Yannick Savage          LSU                Sr.    5-11   185  Sydney, Australia
12: Robert Johns              LSU                Sr.    6-0    195  New Orleans, La.
13: Benji Goff                  Tennessee       Sr.    6-1    210  Brentwood, Tenn.
14: Cornelius Dirksen        Life                 So.   5-9    180  Nashville, Tenn.
15: Danie Swanepoel        Arkansas St.     Sr.    5-10   190  Bloemfontein, South Africa
16: Tyler Ammerman        LSU                Sr.    5-2    225  Mandeville, La.
17: Nick Civetta               Notre Dame     Sr.    6-8    250  New York, N.Y.
18: Joe Cowley                Life                 Fr.    6-1    188  Charlotte, N.C.
19: Adam Ducong             LSU                Sr.    5-8    185  New Orleans, La.
20: Cullen Glennon            LSU                Sr.    5-11   205  New Orleans, La.
21: Paris Hollis                 Life                 Fr.    5-11   220  Charlotte, N.C.
22: John Lalor                 Notre Dame     Sr.    6-2    245  Philadelphia, Pa.
23: Arrynn Wilkinson         Oklahoma        Sr.    5-10   185  Tulsa, Okla.

2011 All-Western Conference Team

Pos. Name                            School              Cl.    Ht.     Wt.   Hometown

1: Mikey Su’a                 BYU                Jr.    5-11   295  West Jordan, Utah
2: Ryan Russomanno      Air Force          Jr.    5-8    180  Anaheim, Calif.
3: Ray Forrester             BYU                Jr.    6-0    255  Nelson, New Zealand
4: Mark Bonham             BYU                Jr.    6-4    240  Fresno, Calif.
5: Viliami Vimahi             BYU                Sr.    6-3    245  Provo, Utah
6: Travis Hughes            Arizona St.       Sr.    6-1    210  Bullhead City, Ariz.
7: Hynie Leaaetoa          BYU                Jr.    5-11   222  Portland, Ore.
8: Ryan Roundy              BYU                Jr.    6-1    218  Holladay, Utah
9: Shaun Davies             BYU                Jr.    5-9    176  Durban, South Africa
10: Dylan Lubbe              BYU                Jr.    5-8    170  Durban, South Africa
11: Mike Getzler               Arizona            Sr.    5-10   180  Sherman Oaks, Calif.
12: Anthony Ruize            Air Force          Sr.    5-7    180  Victorville, Calif.
13: Jared Whippy             BYU                Fr.    5-11   185  Alpine, Utah
14: Sione Lauti                 Utah               Fr.    5-8    185  Salt Lake City, Utah
15: Peter Tiberio              Arizona            Sr.    5-11   185  Aurora, Ill.
16: LeRoi Edwards            Air Force          Jr.    6-4    250  Kent, Wash.
17: Brennan Gallagher       Air Force          Sr.    6-2    225  Stockbridge, Ga.
18: Stephen Karras           Colorado St.     So.   6-1    220  Franktown, Colo.
19: Luke Lahman             Colorado          Jr.    5-10   195  Niwot, Colo.
20: Cameron Loser           Utah               Fr.    6-1    220  Alpine, Utah
21: Apenisa Malani           BYU                Jr.    5-11   215  Provo, Utah
22: Thretton Palamo         Utah               So.   6-4    235  Davis, Calif.
23: Don Pati                    Utah               So.   5-9    180  West Valley City, Utah

2011 All-Pacific Conference Team

Pos. Name                            School              Cl.    Ht.     Wt.   Hometown

1: Matt Crawford            St. Mary’s        Sr.    6-0    212  Sacramento, Calif.
2: Andrew Cook             St. Mary’s        Sr.    6-0    215  San Ramon, Calif.
3: James Besser             Cal                  Sr.    6-1    240  Davis, Calif.
4: Bobby McNeal            Cal Poly-SLO     Sr.    6-4    225  Pine Valley, Calif.
5: Nick Wallace              St. Mary’s        Jr.    6-1    240  Bellingham, Wash.
6: Derek Asbun              Cal                  Sr.    5-10   214  Alamo, Calif.
7: David Martini              UCLA              Sr.    6-2    200  Los Gatos, Calif.
8: Danny Barrett             Cal                  Jr.    6-3    212  Pacifica, Calif.
9: Connor Ring               Cal                  Sr.    5-6    168  Lafayette, Calif.
10: James Bailes              Cal                  Sr.    6-0    190  Cape Town, South Africa
11: Blaine Scully               Cal                  Sr.    6-3    210  Sacramento, Calif.
12: Seamus Kelly              Cal                  So.   5-11   200  Queens, N.Y.
13: Mike Haley                 St. Mary’s        Jr.    6-0    190  Lafayette, Calif.
14: Dustin Muhn               Cal                  Sr.    5-8    180  Morgan Hill, Calif.
15: Tyler Harrison             UC Davis          Sr.    5-8    170  Sacramento, Calif.
16: Pat Farrell                   Central Wash. Sr.      5-11    245  Vancouver, Wash.
17: Ryan Hamilton         Central Wash. Sr.      5-10    195     Republic, Wash.
18: Duncan Kelm            San Diego St. Sr.      6-1     205     Santa Rosa, Calif.
19: Jaime Kelm              San Diego St. Jr.      5-10    220     Santa Rosa, Calif.
20: Kris Osterloh            Cal Poly-SLO  Sr.      6-2     275     Orinda, Calif.
21: Stuart Sharpe           Cal Poly-SLO  Sr.      6-0     200     Irvine, Calif.
22: Sam Sirell                UCLA            So.     6-0     195     Kentfield, Calif.
23: Tim Stanfill               Central Wash. Sr.      5-10    180     Vancouver, Wash.