Six former Hartpury players already confirmed in RWC squads

They may be a Championship side, but Hartpury can already boast an astonishing six former players confirmed to be at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The club website have formally congratulated all six of their former players.

The first three confirmed come care of England. Ellis Genge, Jonny May and Ruaridh McConnochie were named in Eddie Jones' 31-man Rugby World Cup squad on Monday.

And today that tally was doubled, with three more players being confirmed via Conor O'Shea's 31-man Italian Rugby World Cup party.

Jake Polledri, Callum Braley and Sebastian Negri were all named in the squad that unveiled earlier today.

The club stated on their website: "May, Genge, Negri and Braley all played student rugby at Hartpury whilst also representing the RFC. Polledri barely missed a game in two highly successful seasons with the club between 2015 and 2017, while McConnochie played a number of games in the 2014-15 season."

With close ties to Gloucester, Hartpury RFC have been a goldmine of professional rugby talent in recent years.

Both Gloucester and Hartpury share a number of dual-registered players, while the Premiership side regularly scouts players from Hartpury's talent pool - both at university and Championship level.

Polledri - for example - joined the Cherry and Whites at the beginning of the 2017-18 season after impressing for Hartpury RFC in their National One winning campaign.

More recently Hartpury's club captain and player of the season, Simon Linsell, signed a full-time academy contract with Gloucester.

Indeed Gloucester Rugby’s training centre is based at the Hartpury Sports Academy campus alongside Hartpury College and University Centre Hartpury.

England Head Coach Eddie Jones said Wales was a brilliant World Cup warm-up after his side lost at the Principality Stadium. England suffered a 21-13 loss to Wales as both teams' prepare for the Rugby World Cup that starts next month in Japan.