McDermott’s 38‑player World Cup squad leaves several capped players out

Brian McDermott, who earned a single England cap, has named a 38‑player training squad for the October World Cup. The group includes ten uncapped players, five of whom are middle‑forward positions – Dean Hadley (Hull KR), Sam Walters (Wigan), Caleb Hamlin‑Explosion (Wakefield), Ben Talty (Brisbane Broncos) and Max King (Canterbury Bulldogs). afnews.co.za

Several capped players were left out, including Hull Mir captain Elliot Minchella, quadruple‑winning winger Tom Davies, injured Wigan winger Liam Marshall and Catalans hooker Kruise Leeming. McDermott opted for the uncapped talent over the more experienced names.