England Students go Dutch for first time

England Students will tackle a senior international side for the first time when they play the Netherlands this season.

The Students head for Amsterdam in April to face a team 41st in the IRB World Rankings 11 years after England's senior side thumped the same opponents 110-0 in a World Cup qualifying game.

"The Netherlands have got a World Cup qualifier coming up against Sweden and approached us looking for a warm-up fixture," said England Students manager Keith Green.

"The game suits us fine and it's good to be able to broaden our horizons and play different teams in different conditions."

As well as going Dutch on April 11, England face Irish Colleges in Londonderry (February 27) and France Universities at Clifton (March 13) before tackling a Combined Services Under 23 side at Twickenham on May 2.

The Students have a 39-man squad meeting at Broadstreet RFC for training on January 30 under their new coaching team of Paul Westgate and James Farndon.

Westgate is an RFU Level Five coach who has been involved with Exeter Chiefs, Loughborough Students, Somerset and England Counties, while Farndon currently coaches Bristol University.

The 39-man training squad includes Exeter prop Billy Moss (pictured) , part of the England Under 20 side that reached the final of the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship.

England Students fixtures 2009
February 27: Irish Colleges v England Students (Derry RFC, 7.30pm)
March 13: England Students v France Universities (Clifton RFC, 2.30pm)
April 11: Netherlands v England Students (Amsterdam, 2.30pm)
May 2: England Students v Combined Services (Twickenham, 12pm)