Max Ojomoh and Miles Reid link up with senior England Rugby squad for first time as University of Bath student trio get U20 Six Nations call
University of Bath student Max Ojomoh and alumnus Miles Reid are this week training with the senior England Rugby squad for the first time as preparations begin for the summer series.
Matrix Sporting Scholar Orlando Bailey has also been selected in the England U20 squad for the 2021 Six Nations Championship taking place in Cardiff later this month, while fellow first-year students Alex Clayton (Integrated Mechanical & Electrical Engineering) and Zak Giannini (Accounting & Finance) are in the Scotland and Wales squad respectively.
Aaron James, Head of Rugby at the University of Bath, said: “All of us at Team Bath Rugby are made up for all of them. For Miles and Max we hope that the next step is a full England cap to match University of Bath Alumni Tom Dunn’s earlier this year.
“It is exciting to have three first-year students in Orlando, Alex and Zac making the U20 squads for their respective countries and all the club will be following their progress over the summer competitions.”
Both Ojomoh and Reid have played BUCS Super Rugby for the Team Bath men’s 1st XV while combining their university study and sport with progressing through the Bath Rugby Academy ranks.
Back-row Reid, who studied Sports Performance, has firmly established himself in the Premiership club’s match-day squad and is a contender for their Player of the Season awards.
Centre Ojomoh, who studies Business Administration and is supported by the Team Bath Dual Career programme, made his Premiership and European debuts for Bath Rugby this season and has previously represented his country at U20 level.
He and Reid are among 21 uncapped players selected by England Head Coach Eddie Jones for a five-day training camp ahead of this summer’s matches against Scotland A, the United States and Canada.
“For this group it’s a chance to come into the England environment and really show what they can do,” said Jones. “We expect them to be enthusiastic, full of energy and we want them to know there is no limit to their horizon.
“There is a lot of talent in this squad but the challenge for them is to turn talent into performance. We’re really looking forward to working with this group of young players and see where we can take them. They have the opportunity to take on the world.”
Fly-half Bailey, who is studying International Development with Economics, will be looking to build on a breakthrough year with England U20s this summer having also made his Premiership and European debuts with Bath Rugby.
Meanwhile, the University of Bath men’s squad played two matches at Bristol University on Friday, recording two good wins in high-scoring contests.
