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Tickets for the match, which kicks
of at 7pm, are available on the night and all proceeds will go to Matt’s trust
fund.
Coach Jim Mallinder said: “The game is very important to
everyone in the squad. The players were
all keen to take part in the match to show their support for Matt and help raise
the profile of his trust and the work he’s doing. " Manager Peter Drewett added: “Matt had so
much going for him, it’s inspirational to see how he has coped. He’s very much in all our thoughts and will
continue to be. Before our last win
against Ireland Matt Cornwell said to the team that they were playing for Hambo
and when they won the Grand Slam, they dedicated the win to him.
“Along with the Professional Rugby
Players’ Association and Leicester Tigers, we’ll continue to work hard for him.
This game is part of that but we’re in it for the long haul.”
Matt, who
a serious neck injury at an England U21s training session at Franklin's Gardens a
year ago, will be there to watch his two sets of team mates in action, as will
England head coach Andy Robinson.
The Leicester XV,
coached by Andy Key, mixes a host of
first team
squad members with a large number of the club's most promising youngsters
including Scott Bemand, who was today named in Andy Robinson’s squad to tour
Australia, Brett Deacon, Will
Skinner, Seru Rabeni and Dave Young.
Also in their club colours for this match will be England U21s stars Tom
Croft and Cornwell, who hopes to make history by playing for both sides on
the night.
The match also represents the last
opportunity for the young hopefuls to demonstrate their abilities before the
squad for the IRB U21s World Championships is finalised later this
week.
England U21s coach
Dorian West said: “The game gives us a
great opportunity to keep our momentum after our Six Nations success. Firstly it’s about Matt, and, secondly, it’s a
good opportunity for some of the lads, especially those in the wider squad and
those that haven’t played much rugby recently, to play for a place on tour next
month.”
West, a familiar face for
Welford
Road regulars, added: “The crowd here is used to a
good forwards game. We’re coming to play
an all round game. If we play well up
front we’ll create chances, that’s what we’ve been doing all season and nothing
will change there.”
Tickets for the match cost £8
seating, £6 standing and £4 for juniors and are available from the ticket
hotline on 08701 28 34 30 or on the gate.
England U21s
15 Mike Brown – NEC
Harlequins
14 Nick Abendanon – Bath Rugby
13 Matt Riley* – Sale Sharks
12 Ryan Davis – Bath Rugby
11 Paul Diggin – Northampton
Saints
10 Sam Robinson* - Worcester
Warriors
9 Ben Foden – Sale
Sharks
1 Alex Rogers – NEC
Harlequins
2 Chris Brooker – Bath Rugby
3 Mark Lambert – NEC
Harlequins
4 Tom Ryder -
Saracens
5 Richard Blaze – Worcester
Warriors
6 James Haskell – London Wasps
7 Michael Hills
– Sale
Sharks
8 Jordan Crane – Leeds Tykes
(captain)
Replacements
16 Jamie Leonard* - Worcester
Warriors
17 Nick Runciman – Worcester
Warriors
18 Phil Nilson* – Leeds Tykes
19 Tom Mercey* -
Saracens
20 Sean Cox – Sale
Sharks
21 Ian Grieve* - Bristol Rugby
22 Will Matthews* – Gloucester
* previsouly uncapped as U21s players
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