Tresadern call-up makes history for Southam RUFC

Southam Colts and England Counties under-18 player Joe Tresadern. Picture submitted

Southam RUFC are celebrating their first player to gain an England cap after Joe Tresadern was called up for the England Counties under-18 squad.

Tresadern, a student of Southam College and regular for Southam Colts, received the call-up after scoring a 70m interception try to help the Midlands to a 19-17 win over the North in a trial game.

Fellow Southam player Finn Wilde also had high hopes of making the England Counties squad but was ruled out after sustaining a concussion five minutes from the end of the trial game.

Tresadern has already joined up with the 23-player squad for a three-day training camp at Leicester Grammar School in preparation for England Counties under-18s’ two games against Ireland at Ashbourne Rugby Football Club in Dublin next month.

The Midlands is a feeder for England Counties with the squad of 23 drawn from the 64,000 colts who play at under-18 level below the National League One.

Tresadern’s route to full international honours saw him follow the RFU’s Aspirational Pathway, progressing from playing for South Warwickshire through the England Counties team which runs in parallel with the England under-18 squad.