Fax's first look at new signing James
Published Date:
01 October 2008
By James Roberts
HALIFAX will get an early look at new recruit Matt James when Wales take on England in a World Cup warm up at Doncaster next Friday.
The Bradford Bulls prop, who has joined the club on a season-long loan deal for 2009, joins Fax skipper Sean Penkywicz, wingman Damian Gibson and his Bulls teammate - and ex Shay loanee - Craig Kopczak in an 18 man squad.
Two more Fax old boys, Robert Roberts (Oldham) and Ian Watson (Leigh) also get the nod.
Watson is Wales' most experienced player with 21 caps, only seven behind record holder Jim Sullivan.
New coach John Dixon, who took the reins after the Principality failed to qualify for the World Cup last autumn, has included seven Celtic Crusaders players for the date at the Keepmoat Stadium.
There are four uncapped players in Geraint Davies, Lee Williams, Ben Flower - who all play for the Crusaders - and 18-year-old Rhys Williams, who is on Warrington's books but comes from Rhyl and was a member of the Wales Under-18 team that won the European Championships in Prague.
The squad will go into camp on Sunday and train in Wales until Thursday when they will travel to Yorkshire for the match on Friday.
Wales: (Crusaders unless stated): Andy Bracek (Warrington), Geraint Davies, Ben Flower, Damien Gibson (Halifax), Dave Halley (Bradford), Aled James, Jordan James, Matt James (Bradford), Craig Kopczak (Bradford), Mark Lennon, David Mills (Hull KR, capt), Sean Penkywicz (Halifax), Robert Roberts (Oldham), Bryn Powell (Dewsbury), Ian Watson (Leigh), Ian Webster, Lee Williams, Rhys Williams (Warrington).
St Helens struck the first blow for Saturday's engage Super League Grand Final when prop forward James Graham was named Man of Steel.
The 23-year-old Graham maintained Saints' dominance of rugby league's top individual award when he emerged top of a poll of Super League players, who determined the winner for the first time.
He beat his club-mate Leon Pryce and Leeds forward Jamie Peacock, one of his opponents in the Grand Final at Old Trafford - although the modest front rower insisted he was an "impostor".
Graham, recently voted player of the year by the Rugby League Writers Association, received his trophy and a cheque for £5,000 at a gala dinner in Manchester last night.
"I feel a bit embarrassed, a bit of an impostor," he said.
"It's about the team for me. I'd swap it for the Super League trophy."
Leeds winger Lee Smith has been cleared to play in Saturday's engage Super League Grand Final against St Helens.
Smith was placed on report for kicking Wigan's Phil Bailey during last Friday's 18-14 play-off victory.
The full article contains 448 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
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Last Updated:
01 October 2008 8:31 AM
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Source:
Evening Courier
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Location:
Halifax