Cononley flanker Rowan to skipper England (From Keighley News)

Cononley flanker Rowan to skipper England

11:40am Thursday 28th January 2010

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Keighley-born flanker Jacob Rowan will captain England under-20s rugby union side this season.

The Cononley-raised Leeds Carnegie player, currently on loan at Championship side Nottingham, will succeed Headingley team-mate Calum Clark when the RBS Under-20 Six Nations tournament kicks off against Wales at Gloucester on February 5.

Former Bradford Grammar School pupil and Leeds University student Rowan previously appeared for England’s under-16 and under-18 sides before winning under-20 caps last year against France and Scotland.

Coach Mark Mapletoft said: “It’s well deserved and Jacob’s a great character.

“It’s a big honour to captain your country at any level and I think he’ll relish the opportunity.

He’s professional and, first and foremost, he’s a good player worthy of his place in the starting line-up.

“He’s demonstrated to me and the management over the course of the season involved with the under-20s what a great bloke he is. He’ll get respect from the others but he’ll demand high standards.”

England reached a second successive IRB Junior World Championship final last summer and warmed up for the RBS Under-20 Six Nations with a 61-7 win against Cambridge University last week.

Rowan said: “I’m really excited and very pleased that Mark Mapletoft and (assistant coach) Rob Hunter asked me to do it and I’m looking forward to working with the bunch of lads we’ve got this season.

“I’ve had experience with the under-20s and under-18s and think I can lead them and guide them to a good Six Nations and a good Junior World Championship. We want to play an expansive and ambitious game and that’s been set out from day one but you’ve still got a keep a balance to it.

“Everyone’s really excited about the players we’ve got, there’s a lot of pace in the side across the board and we’ve got strength in depth, which is very important.

“Now everyone’s raring to go for Wales and everyone’s put down a marker to win that Test jersey. We’re all excited about what could happen.”

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