The South East student rugby league squad to face the South West next weekend in Maidenhead sees 3 representatives from Skolars.

Versatile half-back Sam Druce, will form an important part of the side, whilst off the field, 1^st team Assistant Coach Matt Cuss and U13’s Head Coach Paul Quill form part of the coaching team.

Following trials at Brunel University that featured over 45 hopefuls from St Mary’s University, Oxford, Cambridge, Brunel, Oxford Brookes, Reading, half-back Druce was selected along with a considerable number of his St Mary’s team-mates.

The squad packs a wide range of talent and experience, Charlie Green and Sam Druce both played for England Universities last year, and have League One pedigree with Oxford and Skolars whilst powerful prop forward Malikhi Lloyd Jones has made numerous appearances from the bench for League One rivals Hemel Stags last year. His counterpart in the front row Jamie Mackay has also recently signed League One terms with Oxford. No doubt other members of the 20 man squad will be hoping to impress members of the Skolars 1^st team coaching staff, and show their League One credentials.

The South East representative side provides a pathway for students to progress to an origin fixture where the best of the South will take on their counterparts from the North of England. From this fixture the full England squad will be selected, who will then go on to defend their 4 Nations Crown at Easter.

Cuss added: “The squad are looking forward to the fixture this weekend and we are confident that many of the boys can progress through the pathway and achieve England selection. Personally it’s been great for myself to be able to work with the boys over the past few weeks, and keep an eye on the undoubted talent that we have at the Student Level of the game. I’ll certainly be providing feedback to our Head Coach Jermaine on those players I believe have the potential to add something to our squad for 2016.

Skolars have a proud history in giving players from Student RL the opportunity to prove themselves in the professional ranks, just this year signing winger Alex Mills-Baker and utility forward Adam Roels from the University of Exeter’s rugby league programme. With continued strong backing of the Student game, it won’t be long before another product from the University pathway is snapped up by the Skolars.