Drennan England U23’s team manager Mark Downes has announced the squad to compete in the 30th FIPSed U23’s World Championships which will be held in Coruche, Portugal.

Retaining their places from last year are; Alex Clements, Matt Barnett and Rory Jones while Bradley Gibbons will also feature as he progresses from the U18s.  The fifth and final place in the squad goes to Sheffield’s Ricky Marshall who will win his first England cap.

The team are;

 Alex Clements, Southampton

 Rory Jones, Herefordshire

 Bradley Gibbons, Berkshire

 Matt Barnett, Hampshire

 Ricky Marshall, Sheffield

Coruche on the River Sorraia is a notoriously difficult venue for England Teams.  The under 18s and under 23s have only one team bronze medal in their last two  visits to the venue so  the team will be looking to improve upon that record in 2016.  It is expected that barbel on the waggler and bleak and borga on the pole, plus the occasional Carassio and mullet will be the target species.

Mark Downes, Drennan U23s England Manager stated “This is a good team, all capable of fishing at distance but equally at home putting 200 small fish on the scales if needed.  We will need all of our technical and tactical skills on this one if we are to do well.”

 Mark this year will be joined by Darran Bickerton as his Assistant Coach.  Darran has a wealth of experience and is well travelled.  Mark said “tactically Darran is superb, and his attention to detail when it comes to preparation is meticulous, along with myself we will leave no stone unturned.”