Preparation for the match, which kicks off at 12pm, begins with a training session on Wednesday 20 April at Kingston Park, starting at 6.30pm. This session will then see the squad trimmed to 20 members.

With representatives from eight colleges and six forms, no less than 10 Rockets have been named. Two ex-U16s captains in the form of Joey Bell and Chris Paterson feature alongside England Lionheart, Matty Gordon.

Joining them are Alex Dodds, Aiden Orritt and Kait Atkinson with Joe Morris, Harry Fickling, Robert Clough and Connor Beswick making up the orange and black contingent.

“It is exciting to see so many Rockets picked and also how many educational institutions are being represented” said Rockets Chairman, Jeff Ball.

“To have players from Astley High in Northumberland to Barnard Castle, which is near the North Yorkshire border just shows how much the sport is spreading across the region.

For our lads, it will be a big honour to represent their region and hopefully a spring board for further honours.

We had Fraser Boldy go on to play for England Colleges last season after impressing for the North East and there is enough talent in the squad for several of them to follow in his footsteps.”

The 26-man North East and Cumbria Colleges train-on squad in full * denotes Rocket:

Joe Morris* - Tyne Met College
Harry Fickling* (Astley High School)
Luke Elliot (New College Durham)
Tom Gardner (Barnard Castle School)
Robert Clough* (Astley High School)
Matty Gordon* (Tyne Met College)
Haydn Williamson (Gateshead College)
Leon Van - Zanfliet (Gateshead College)
Charlie Leask (Tyne Met College)
Rowan Hall (Barnard Castle School)
Bevan Leeke (Tyne Met College)
Connor Beswick* (Gosforth High School)
Craig Banks – (Tyne Met College)
Harry Chance – (New College Durham)
Adam Toddhunter (Haydon Bridge High School)
Chris Paterson* (Tyne Met College)
Kai Atkinson* (Tyne Met College)
Morgan Reay (Tyne Met College)
Joe Smith - Millican (Gateshead College)
Joey Bell* (Whitley Bay High School)
Adam Eglin (Gateshead College)
Connor Billingham (New College Durham)
Alex Dodds* (Gosforth High School)
Aiden Orritt* (Tyne Met College)
Callum Moore (Astley High School)
Josh Hetherington (New College Durham)

Schedule:

Wednesday 20th April – Training (Kingston Park) start time 6.30pm
Wednesday 4th May – Training (Kingston Park) start time 6.30pm
Sunday 8th May – North East v Midlands Rep Match (Kingston Park) 12.00pm kick-off