TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR THE AUDI INTERNATIONAL
The Final Test Match of the Season at Chester Racecourse Polo Club – Saturday 6 September 2014
The England team and its Rest of the World opposition have been announced for the third and final Audi Polo International of the season at Chester Racecourse Polo Club on Saturday 6 September 2014.
The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the sport’s governing body, has confirmed that Jack Richardson, George Meyrick, Max Charlton and Tom Morley will represent England. The Rest of the World team will feature Richard Le Poer, whose family come from Ireland and who will play alongside an Argentines Manuel Fernandez Llorente, Matias Torres Zabaleta and Guy Gibrat.
The newly announced England line-up includes a line-up of young professionals –Richardson, Meyrick and Charlton – all of whom have already achieved international success this season with the victory over Goldin Hong Kong at the Audi International at Beaufort Polo Club, Tetbury, on 21 June.
The young trio have not only displayed their personal talent this season but also highlighted the exciting future of English polo. In fact, it has recently been revealed that both Charlton and Richardson will play off higher handicaps of 7 and 6 goals respectively next season (see note one). This gives Charlton the highest rating any English player holds, alongside established professionals – Luke Tomlinson and James Beim.
Richardson expressed his delight at being chosen to play for England: “It’s a great honour to be selected for my second senior England game and, naturally, I am really looking forward to the challenge. We beat Hong Kong with a similarly young team earlier in the year and I feel confident that we will be able to do the same in Chester”.
Morley is the most senior player in the team and consequently will take on the role of Captain. Other than being one of the most talented England players who plays at number 4, a factor which would have been taken into consideration by team selectors, Morley has played alongside each of his Chester teammates this season. As well having achieved success with Richardson, Meyrick and Charlton on numerous occasions, familiarity brings an added bonus to any sports team.
2014’s Audi International Polo Series has seen England take on Hong Kong and Argentina, with both matches producing impressive displays of the sport. A 10–8½ victory in the opening Test Match over Hong Kong gave England the ideal start to their season. Although a second win could not be obtained against Argentina at Guards Polo Club on 26 July, England produced a tenacious performance in front of a big crowd against a side, which featured Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres – the world’s two best players.
The International at Chester will conclude this year’s Audi International Polo Series. With the Rest of the World team having the opportunity to select any player in the world, England must expect to take on tough opposition. One thing however is guaranteed; spectators will be treated to a five chukka spectacle of fast-flowing polo, starring eight of the world’s most talented polo players on one of the most beautiful and unique polo grounds in the country.
The Teams:
Audi England: Jack Richardson (5), Max Charlton (7), George Meyrick (6), Tom Morley (6)
Rest of the World: Richard Le Poer (5), Manuel Fernandez Llorente (6), Matias Torres Zabaleta (7), Guy Gibrat (4)