England U18 have named their side to face Scotland on Sunday, as both sides gear up for their European Championship Challenge.

The game takes place at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park on Sunday 8^th March at 17.30.

The team sees a number of the most exciting talents from this year’s school season including three of the top full backs in the country managing to be squeezed in, in the form of Sedbergh’s Jonny McPhillips at full back, Millfield’s Darren Atkins on the right wing, and Wellington College’s Sam Aspland-Robinson on the left wing.

There is also room for a couple of star fly halves, the tem is led by the experienced Theo Brophy-Clews of Abingdon, with Felsted’s Max Malins at inside centre. Blundell’s Jack Maunder starts at scrum half, with Prince Henry’s Grammar School’s Max Wright at outside centre.

If the backline is independent school dominated, the forward pack is dominated by the AASE College’s.

The front row sees Jack Pope from Myerscough College and Jack Stanley from Truro College propping, with Filton College’s Dan Frost at hooker.

Bicton College’s Josh Caulfield and Moulton College’s Tim Cardall team up in the second row, with Gosforth Academy’s Joe Craggs at 6. Trent College’s Will allman starts at openside, with Merchiston College’s Zach Mercer making the trip from Scotland to play at number 8.

The bench sees another former Scotland youth international in Sam Yawayawa, with the Lymm High School pair of Alex Mitchell and Mark Dixon completing the backs subs. Joe Mullis, Ollie Dawe, and Charlie Capps are the front row replacements, with Archie White of Epsom College, and William Evans of Leicester Tigers covering the rest of the pack.

Forward’s coach and former Scotland international Pete Walton said:

 “We’re really excited about this game – it will be the first time a number of these lads have worn the England Under 18 shirt and we’re looking forward to seeing them in action.”

“Scotland will come at us with plenty of passion, but we are just as passionate. We’ve prepared well and we want to put in a good performance. It will be a great experience for the lads to play at a Premiership stadium in front of a strong crowd and we hope that plenty of people stay after the Falcons game to cheer us on.”

Scotland have also named their side, with one particularly interesting dynamic, Abingdon openside Michael Dewar will be looking to get in the face of his school 10 Theo Brophy-Clews.

Henley College’s Connor Eastgate starts at inside centre, with Hartpury College’s Alex Craig at 6. Meanwhile Mercer will battling with his Merchiston teammate Fergus Bradbury, who starts at prop for Scotland.

The bench includes Sedbergh’s Jack Solman and Moulton College’s George Thorton.

England U18 XV

15 Jonny McPhillips (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School)

14 Darren Atkins (Bath Rugby, Millfield School)

13 Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie, Prince Henry’s)

12 Max Malins (Saracens, Felsted)

11 Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins, Wellington College)

10 Theo Brophy Clews (London Irish, Abingdon School, captain)

9 Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs, Blundells School)

1 Jake Pope (Sale Sharks, Myerscough College)

2 Dan Frost (Bath Rugby, Filton College)

3 Jack Stanley (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)

4 Josh Caulfied (Exeter Chiefs, Bicton College)

5 Tim Cardall (Northampton Saints, Moulton College)

6 Joe Craggs (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy)

7 Will Allman (Northampton Saints, Trent College)

8 Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby, Merchiston Castle School)

Replacements:

16 Joe Mullis (Gloucester Rugby, Chosen Hill)

17 Ollie Dawe (Exeter Chiefs, Bicton College)

18 Charlie Capps (Yorkshire Carnegie, Prince Henry’s)

19 Archie White (Harlequins, Epsom College)

20 William Evans (Leicester Tigers, Wyggeston & QEI College)

21 Alexander Mitchell (Sale Sharks, Lymm HS)

22 Mark Dixon (Sale Sharks, Lymm HS)

23 Sam Yawayawa (Leicester Tigers, Wyggeston & QEI College)

Scotland U18 XV

15 Saul Melvin-Farr (Edinburgh Academy/Edinburgh Academicals)

14 Darcy Graham (Hawick High School/Hawick Wanderers)

13 Alastair Greig (Stewart’s Melville College/Stewart’s Meville)

12 Connor Eastgate (Henley College/Wasps)

11 Robbie Nairn (George Watson’s College/Currie)

10 Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Academy/Edinburgh Academicals)

9 Jamie Troup (Strathallan School)

1 Adam Nicol (Dunfermline)

2 Fraser Renwick (Hawick High School/Hawick Wanderers)

3 Fergus Bradbury (Merchiston Castle School)

4 Hamish Bain (George Watson’s College/Currie)

5 Callum Hunter-Hill (Stewart’s Melville College)

6 Alexander Craig (Hartpury College/Gloucester)

7 Michael Dewar (Abingdon School/Wasps)

8 Bruce Flockhart (Strathallan School/Highland)

Replacements:

16 Jack Solman (Sedbergh School)

17 George Thornton (Moulton College/Market Harborough)

18 Blair Robertson (Kelso Harlequins)

19 Andrew Grant-Suttie (Loretto School/North Berwick)

20 Matthew Fagerson (Strathallan School)

21 Charlie Shiel (Royal High School/RHC Cougars)

22 Grant Huggan (Hawick Wanderers)

23 Craig Pringle (Loretto School/Melrose)