Im wondering what the chances are of players below SL being selected for England. I know Championship players have been played football for England (e.g. Jay Bothroyd), but dont remember this ever happening in RL? The RL Championship is now stronger than ever, and with the likes of Leigh and Bradford going so well, and being full time, will their players be considered at International level?

Myler in 08 did didn't he? Whilst Salford were in the championship

No. Not for England anyway, none are good enough.

Yes agree on this, i'm sure it was right at the end of the season.

None are ready yet. While they are some good players, the opposition are mainly part time.

I think Brierley, Adam O'brien have the potential to represent England in a few years, but they need to be playing SL.

A while ago, clubs mooted the idea of a Championship XIII representative side. I would be quite interested to see such a team take on the England Knights or perhaps France.

I'm looking forward to the SL v Championship Cup ties and Super 8 format this season. The Championship fans seem to be getting very bullish and confident about their sides. I know a couple of Leigh fans at work and they are as cocky as can be, both reckon they would comfortably beat Saints at home. They also say they wouldn't need to sign anyone to get in the top 8 of next years Super League either. Now people are discussing Championship players playing internationally?

I've not watched the Championship so can't really comment on how good the standards are. Hard to fathom why they aren't more signings from there given the big discrepancy on the salary cap if the players are that good however? We've seen a handful make it recently, but not exactly the flood gates I'd expect if the Championship was full of good players.

Nick Pinkney played for England whilst at Keighley Cougars at the start of SL.

My abiding memory of Pinkney is showing Jonathan Davies his heels to score a try against Warrington in Cougars last minute loss in the Challenge cup.

There are plenty of Championship players capable of making it in SL. As far as Tests are concerned I think that's harder to say.

Neil Turley came close if I recall, represented Lancs and got called up to the train on squad if I remember correctly.

I don't think there's any good enough for England just yet but have been saying Liam Kay for Leigh has come on really well since going full time, was pretty good to begin with mind. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a call up to the England Knights at the end of the season if he & Leigh carry on as they are doing. Who was in the last England Knights squad? Might be full time Championship players making it into there.

Whilst I agree with what you're saying, I dont understand why there has been so few Championship players signed by SL teams, given the success of Walmsley, Hill, Finn etc.
Still plenty decent enough players at this level- Brierley, Barlow, Murrell, QLT, Yere

A National League side played New Zealand 'A' at Leigh in 2003.

didn't Daryl Powell play for GB when he was at keighley also?

Yes Daryl Powell and Nick Pinkney played for England in the 1995 RL World Cup whilst with Keighley Cougars. Pinkney was a non-playing sub in the World Cup Final at Wembley. Cougars' coach Phil Larder was England coach. During the 1995 RL World Cup there was a crowd of 5,000 at Cougar Park for a group game, Fiji v South Africa. Cougars won the 2nd division that year but promotion to the top flight was blocked due to the advent of teams being selected for inclusion in the new Super League.