Pair of aces earn call-up

RISING STARS . . . Danny Bridge (left) and Kristian Bell.

RUGBY LEAGUE: TWO local youngsters are celebrating after being named in the initial 2010 England Academy rugby league squad.

Kristian Bell and Danny Bridge, the 16-year-old pair who play for Hull KR and Wigan Warriors respectively, are both former pupils of Counthill School and learned the game together at Waterhead and Oldham St Anne's.

Bridge is the younger brother of Warrington and England centre Danny, while Bell made the switch to the Robins of East Yorkshire after spending time with St Helens.

The squad will meet up throughout 2010 for coaching sessions and meetings run by the new full–time national development coach, a vacancy which is currently being advertised by the RFL.

England will play three fixtures in 2010, a match against France in June and two Tests against the Australian High Schools in December.

The squad is:

Jack Briscoe (Hull FC), Jordan Thompson (Castleford), Jack Murphy (Wigan), Darren Lamb (Huddersfield), Ryan King (Wigan), Reece Lyne (Hull FC), George Elliott (Leeds), Tommy Makinson (St Helens), Danny Cowling (Wakefield), Ryan Shaw (Warrington), Bobby Goulding (Warrington), Sam Powell (Wigan), Cain Southernwood (Wakefield), Kristian Bell (Hull KR), George Burgess (Bradford), Tom Lillicrop (Bradford), Carl Forster (St Helens), Brad Singleton (Leeds), Danny Smith (Leeds), Adam Milner (Castleford) Liam Hood (Leeds), Adam O'Brien (Bradford), James Laithewaite (Warrington), Ben Crooks (Hull FC), Danny Bridge (Wigan), Jared Stewart (Leeds), James Donaldson (Bradford), Greg Burke (Wigan), Mathew Russell (Wigan).