Yarnbury coach Bob Hood’s mental agility and his repu-tation as one of the best organised rugby union coaches in the business will be challenged over the next two days.

He is simultaneously di-recting the efforts of the newly-formed England Counties Under-20s and the Yorkshire senior side, who play on successive days this weekend.

Luckily he will not have far to travel given that the Counties youngsters will be preparing for their in-augural match against Scotland’s Under-20 World Cup squad at West Park Leeds tonight.

Yorkshire trained at Yarn-bury last night ahead of their opening Bill Beau-mont Cup game against Cheshire at Sheffield RFC tomorrow.

Hood’s initial coaching focus will be on the Coun-ties Under-20s, who include former Moortown hooker Ben Sowrey, now at Wharfe-dale.

Former England flanker and Leeds Carnegie coach Neil Back will present the players with their shirts en route to the ground.

As for Yorkshire, who lost 18-13 to Cheshire last sea-son, Hood said: “We look to have a side that is pretty lively with plenty of pace.

“We have players from Leeds Carnegie, Wharfe-dale, Harrogate and Otley essentially.

“We have some lads who are new to the scene with good track records and some good form this season. Dan Cook, from Hull, is captain.”