Trio doubtful for England camp over Covid-19 concerns - Page 2 of 3 - Ruck

Trio doubtful for England camp over Covid-19 concerns

David Ribbans

  • Age: 25
  • Club: Northampton Saints
  • Position: Lock
  • Former clubs: Western Province
  • International history: N/a
  • Place of birth: South Africa

After making 18 appearances for Saints and scoring three tries during the 2017/18 season, Ribbans really kicked on in Chris Boyd’s first season in charge of Northampton and played 22 matches in all competitions – starting 19 and crossing the whitewash four times along the way.

Impressing supporters with his lineout prowess and imposing ball-carrying, Ribbans was voted the Club’s player of the month for October 2018 in a standout year for the men in Black, Green and Gold as the side won the Premiership Rugby Cup and reached the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals.


Nathan Earle

  • Age: 26
  • Club: Harlequins
  • Position: Wing
  • Former clubs: Saracens, Bedford, Old Albanians
  • International history: Former England U18 & 20 regular, Earle played for a young England XV against the Barbarians, scoring his first try on debut. 
  • Place of birth: Hong Kong
  • Did you know? He notes former super-star Richard Hill as being particularly crucial to his time in the Saracens academy

Earle joined Harlequins for the 2018/19 season from Saracens, having just won the Aviva Premiership with the Double European Champions and scored in the final.

He was electric in his first season in the quartered shirt, scoring 11 tries in 23 appearances, including a glorious double against Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm and a memorable match-winner against Bath Rugby at the Rec – both in the Gallagher Premiership.

Unfortunately,  his campaign was cut agonisingly short by injury, though is expected to return to the side next season and make a similarly impressive impact on the field.


Alex Dombrandt

  • Age: 23
  • Club: Harlequins
  • Position: Back-row
  • Former clubs: Cardiff Met RFC
  • International history:
  • Place of birth: Surrey
  • Did you know? Dombrandt reduced his weight from 130kg (at university) to 120kg by the 2019-2020 season

Having excelled in his first season in elite rugby, Dombrandt received a host of accolades including being named both the adidas Supporter’s Player of the Season (voted for by Harlequins supporters) and the Player’s Player of the Season (voted for by the squad). He was also named in the BT Sport Team of the Year.

At the conclusion of the 2018/19 season, Dombrandt was selected alongside Marcus Smith and Joe Marchant for England’s Quilter Cup match against the Barbarians at Twickenham, where he scored two tries. This performance merited his selection for Eddie Jones’ World Cup training camp. 


Simon Kerrod

  • Age: 28
  • Club: Harlequins
  • Position: Prop
  • Former clubs: Sharks, Jersey, Worcester Warriors
  • International history: South African Barbarians
  • Place of birth: Johannesburg
  • Did you know? The oldest of Eddie Jones uncapped call-ups

Kerrod moved to Harlequins from Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2019/20 season.

The Tighthead prop spend two seasons at Worcester having moved there from Jersey Reds. Previously he represented Sharks and Eastern Province Kings in South Africa.

Kerrod was born in Johannesburg and has played a South Africans Barbarian team, but is English-qualified.

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