AFTER four highly successful years, the 2008 Drennan Team England that will travel to the World Championships in Italy and European Championships in Czech Republic has been announced today.

There are no changes to the two teams, as the two managers Mark Addy and Mark Downes, are confident these squads after four years of unrivalled success will repair the glitch at last year's World Championships, which saw them failing to get onto the rostrum.

The team which will take part in the World Championships on Spinadesco Canal, in Cremona, Italy has been named as: Alan Scotthorne, Will Raison, Sean Ashby, Steve Gardener, Des Shipp and Stuart Conroy.

The European Championships which will be fished in the Czech Republic in June has been named as Will Raison, Alan Scotthorne, Steve Gardener Stuart Conroy, Darren Cox and Steve Hemingray.

Mark Downes said: "These are two great teams and despite last year's poor result by our very own high standards finishing fifth in the World Championships we still came away with medals in the shape of a gold for Alan.

"We also had a silver in the European Championships, where we only lost by one point to the Italians. This year's venues are going to be very difficult and the World Championship in Italy is going to be a particularly difficult one to crack."

With no Six Nations this year, there will be a challenge match against France in May with the team named as Will Raison, Sean Ashby, Stuart Conroy, Kian Wardle, Richard O' Connor and Ben Leach.

Downes said: "We no longer have the Six Nations so these matches give us the chance to blood some youth. I selected Ben Leach some 14 years ago for the youth world champs in Belgium where we won as a team and Ben won individually. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and thoroughly deserves his chance."

On all the team selections, Dick Clegg, NFA international events director, said: "Mark Downes and Mark Addy have done an excellent job as team managers and with this experienced squad selection I expect the team to do extremely well this summer."

5:50pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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