John Fletcher has named his first competitive England U18 squad of the season.
They will face France U18 at 13.30 on Saturday at St Moreau Desfarges as they prepare for the start of the re-introduced U18 5 Nations.
The squad sees a good blend of schools and AASE players, with many names having featured in the recent U18 Academy Competition finals day at Allianz Park.
A number of the players have also played A League rugby this season, including Harlequins and Cranleigh number 8 Dino Lamb-Cona, and his rival for that shirt, Tonbridge and Saracens’ Ben Earl.
Wellington College will look at this squad with a sense of real pride, they are the most represented school in the entire squad with three of the 24 man squad coming from the College. Their players are outside centre Matt Williams, fly half/full back Tom Parton, and scrum half Rory Brand, who looks to be in competition for that shirt with Hartpury College’s Harry Randall, the only other school with more than one representative, the other being prop Alex Seville.
They are two of the seven strong AASE contingent, the others being Gosforth Academy prop Jamie Blamire, Filton College’s Oli Graham, Moulton College fly half James Grayson, St Paul’s Catholic College prop Jarod Leat, and Queen Elizabeth & Wyggeston College fly half/centre, Jacob Umaga.
Will Butler represents Hereford Cathedral School, with back row Tom Curry representing Oundle and Second row Max Davies representing Sedbergh.
Trinity wing Gabriel Ibitoye is included alongside the excellent Haileybury second row, Nick Isiekwe, with KES Aston prop Joseph Morris also included. Millfield, as ever, are represented. Their dynamic hooker/back row Gabriel Oghre is included, along with Berkhamsted’s Jack Nay, Stowe’s Devante Onojaife, and Felsted Ehren Painter. Pocklington’s Lewis Wilson completes the squad.
The squad will likely be shaken up again ahead of Scotland U18 on the 6th March, but it certainly looks like an exciting squad ahead of the first England U18 fixture of the season!
What do you think of the England U18 squad? Let us know on @FifteenRugbyXV
England U18 Squad v France, Saturday, 13.30, St Moreau Desfarges
Jamie Blamire (Gosforth Academy)
Rory Brand (Wellington College)
Will Butler (Hereford Cathedral School)
Ratu Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish)
Tom Curry (Oundle)
Max Davies (Sedbergh)
Ben Earl (Tonbridge)
Oli Graham (Filton College)
James Grayson (Moulton College)
Gabriel Ibitoye (Trinity)
Nick Isiekwe (Haileybury)
Dino Lamb-Cona (Cranleigh)
Jarod Leat (St Paul’s Catholic College)
Joseph Morris (KES Aston)
Jack Nay (Berkhamsted)
Gabriel Oghre (Millfield)
Devante Onojaife (Stowe)
Ehren Painter (Felsted)
Tom Parton (Wellington College)
Harry Randall (Hartpury College)
Alex Seville (Hartpury College)
Jacob Umaga (Queen Elizabeth & Wyggeston College)
Matt Williams (Wellington College)
Lewis Wilson (Pocklington)
