Following the announcement yesterday of their North squad to take on Hymers College this weekend, the Independent Schools RFC Lambs have announced their U18 South East squad today.
Along with the announcement of the South East squad, the Lambs have also released details of their Easter tour, which looks likely to be one of their toughest to date.
The tour will take place in the week following Easter, where a squad of just thirty players will be taken on the short hop across the Irish seas to, of course, Ireland.
They will play four fixtures, first against a Leinster Schools XV, followed by a Leinster Clubs XV. They will then move over to Connacht to date of Connacht U18’s before finally moving over to Ulster to take on Ulster U18’s.
It will be a challenging tour for both bodies and mind, with all four games being played over the course of just one week. Each player selected can expect to be playing in two matches plus substitute appearances in that period.
These are the cream of the Independent Schools crop though, and a tough schedule ought to bring out the best in them.
Long before thoughts can turn to Ireland though, the players must negotiate the regional selection games. These take place on the 6th January, with the North taking on the Midlands and the South East taking on the South West.
The South East have today announced their squad for that fixture, which will take place at Portsmouth Grammar school, and it makes interesting reading.
As with the North squad, it includes 24 players from a variety of different schools. Eton College are the most highly represented in the squad with four players, reflecting what has been a good term for this most famous of schools, and of the brand of rugby that they play.
Framlingham and Brentwood both contribute three players each, while perhaps surprisingly Harrow and Tonbridge only manage three between them, though the success of their sides in recent years has seen many of their players given the chance to go down the elite route making them ineligible.
It is a surprise to see no Dulwich College players in the squad, though given the busy schedule they hope to have next term, Head Coach Sam Howard may quietly be pleased not to be losing any of his charges at any point.
It is great to see KCS Wimbledon and King’s School, Canterbury represented, and that Merchant Taylors, who kindly hosted the trial, have managed two representatives.
As ever, it is a fantastic achievement to be selected for the Lambs at any level, but for this competitive group of boys the real aim will be to show their skills and work towards that tour to Ireland.
South East squad v South West XV 6th January 2013:
Aurele Armstrong – Merchant Taylors School
Henry Baldwin    – Framlingham College
Charlie Banks – Colfe’s School
Harry Bellman – Merchant Taylors School
Will Bennett – Reigate Grammar School
Freddie Chalmers – Harrow School
Elliot Croft – Brentwood School
Fred Davis – Eton College
Max Ellery – Bede’s School
Oliver Hill-Smith – RGS Guildford
Alex MacDonald – Eton College
Joss Morgan – Tonbridge
Piers O’ Connor – Eastbourne College
Cyprian Owen Edmonds – Harrow School
Stephen Packer    – Framlingham College
James Parker – Colfe’s School
Conor Phillips – Brentwood School
Ralph Salter – Eton College
Ben Simpson – The King’s School, Canterbury
Iain Stewart – Brentwood School
Will Van Klaveren – Kings College School Wimbledon
Matthew Warren – Framlingham College
Tom Wrigglesworth – Eton College
Tom Yeulet – Pangbourne College
For more information about the ISRFC Lambs please visit them at:Â http://www.isrugby.net/index.php
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