Yarnbury's coach Bob Hood has been named lead coach of the newly-created England Counties under-20 team, who play their first match against Scotland on Friday, May 6 at West Park Leeds RFC.

During his time with Yorkshire under-21s and under- 20s from 1995-2007, the White Rose team won 69 of their 74 Championship games and included in that tally eight national championship titles.

"I think the team is a fantastic idea." said former Bradford & Bingley and Baildon coach Hood.

"I find working with under-20 players really rewarding. It’s a fantastic level.

"Their rugby development is such that they are hungry to learn, but they have the physical maturity of open-age players, which is why you get a really good quality of rugby."

Joining Hood on the coaching front will be former London Welsh player Paul Cox, currently head of curriculum at Worthing College and coach to the England Colleges team, while Rob Clilverd, a director at Bristol RFC, will be the team's chairman of selectors, and Malcolm Ross from Leicestershire will be the manager.