Alex Donaghy and Nathan Clemmitt have been training as part of the England Talent identification set up in recent months and their efforts have been enough to impress the selectors.

Both are from Northumberland and play for the Rockets U16s. Despite being U15s like 75% of their teammates, the squad was able to complete the domestic treble this year going the whole season unbeaten.

Both were also part of the squad that travelled to Perpignan and lifted the Jean Galia Trophy after beating the reigning French champions.

It is there efforts as part of the Newcastle Thunder U16s that have caught the eye, becoming integral members of a team that has taken the scalp of Salford Red Devils’ Super League Academy side amongst other successes this season.

To aid their development, they have also recently been playing for Super League club’s academies, Donaghy at Leeds Rhinos and Clemmitt and Huddersfield Giants.

With Donaghy playing three times and scoring three times and Clemmitt playing twice, they have not looked out of place and proven that there is a lot of quality in the region.
Jeff Ball, Rockets Chairman said: “We are exceptionally proud of both the lads.

It is great to see the Rockets named in representative honours once again having had five of our other players also feature in recent years.

It shows there is a conveyor belt of talent coming from this part of the world and the players, their families and their coaches both at the club and at Thunder should rightly feel very proud.”

Their match against Wales will be played later this year with the full squad being announced soon.