Five players from the region’s top rugby club have been called up for international squads, writes Becky Haywood.
Bury St Edmunds, who play in National League Two South – the highest level a club from this region has ever reached – continue to lead the way for high level rugby in Suffolk and Essex.
And the quality of their squad was demonstrated with the international calls for a number of their players.
Matt Harrison, who joined the Wolfpack this season from Quinns Academy, has been selected to play for England Academy 7s at the Dubai 7s this month.
Harrison was first spotted by the coaching team at Bury when he played for Samurai Bulldogs at the Greene King IPA 7s in May this year. He scored the winning try in the open final against Bury and was soon signed to the club.
Meanwhile, recent Wolfpack signing Conan Osborne has also been busy representing his country – he scored the match-winning try for Jamaica 7s last month, helping them to qualify for the World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
Elsewhere, Namibian Colleen Smith returns to the Wolfpack this month following a spell representing his nation against Uruguay, earning him his 14th and 15th cap.
And Bury captain Liam McBride represented the Netherlands against Moldova and Switzerland, in matches the Dutch won 59-7 and 30-27 recently. The Kiwi is able to represent Holland as his mother was born in the country.
Finally, Zimbabwean Boyd Rouse helped his nation qualify for rugby 7s at the Rugby World Cup in 2018 by competing in the Africa Cup, earning him 14 International tournament caps in the IRB World Series. He also has 19 caps for Zimbabwe 15s.
Former English & Irish Lion Ollie Smith, Bury head coach, said: “Congratulations to Matt for securing his first England cap and to Conan, Colleen, Liam and Boyd for representing their national teams.
“It shows to quality of squad we have this year at Bury that so many are being spotted and selected to play at the very highest level.”
Bury, who sit sixth in National League Two South, lost 37-34 to unbeaten league leaders Chinnor last weekend. They travel to second-placed Cinderford this weekend.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here