England Youth beat France Youth yesterday 28-18 up in Newcastle. Wire had three lads playing; Riley Dean (FB), Jack Wright (BR), and Eribe Doro (Prop). On Tuesday the second test will be played at Castleford and I think they will play two more; Henry Collins and Cole Oakley. Despite the loss of all 5 players the U16's still managed to beat City of Hull U16's yesterday by 38-22 with a couple of tries from centre Liam Brinksman, who can certainly shift. Happy days for the U16's this year, but just to underline the wealth of talent Wigan have in their area, the England side yesterday comprised no less than 6 of their players.

Just shows that wigans scouting system is superior to others as not all lads are from the Wigan area

I saw that our stand off was Kohe Love - I assume this is Toa's son?

That makes me feel old if so! Hopefully will be as good a player as his Dad.

Yes it is, Joe is the oldest of his 3 sons.

Doesn't seem that long ago that I was watching Toa's 1st match for our Alliance team when he was only 19.

We also have Jack Roper and Louis Wainwright playing in the U19's. Morgan Nicholas left a season or so ago I think.

I don't know if anybody has noticed but none of the 6 Wigan players that played for England are from the Wigan area. Players that represent Wigan have been signed from; Siddal x3, Blackbrook x2 and Leigh Miners Rangers. Having said that, Siddal have 5 players playing for England 16's. The Siddal team went unbeaten for nearly 2 seasons and played an age group above themselves at under 16's level (15's playing in the 16's league).

It's a very good point and the same one that Northern Light is making. It's bad enough that Wigan have got such a lot of talent in there area without hoovering up the best elsewhere as well. Its a bit surprising they are taking them from Blackbrook as that is Saints main supplier of talent I think. Wire Riley Dean is a Siddal lad as well I believe.

Wigan have just signed four more (I think) from Blackbrook for next years scholarship, one of them being Steve Gansons younger son.
His elder son Josh is Wigans academy captain.

Really strange that with Wigan's six representatives for England u16's being "out of towners" that there are no Wigan lads in the squad. I'd imagine that's the first time it's ever happened.

Do you think it's an anomaly? Haven't Wigan tried to bring the top schoolboys under one roof at Central Perk? If so is that seen as a failure? Seem to remember Warrington trying to do the same at Beaumont a few years back and that was short-lived.

I have made this point about Wigan's out of town signing of young talent before. The real issue however, is not what Wigan are doing, good luck to them, it is what are Warrington doing? Even Saints have some of our young talent in their squads. Is it because we are poor at spotting them, or offer poor support and contracts or don't consider them good enough? Or all of the above?

Another win for the U16's tonight dispatching Wigan at Vicky Park by 26-12.