England have named their U18 ‘A’ side to face Italy this afternoon in the U18 5 Nations Festival
The England U18 ‘A’ side is predominantly an U17 side, and this will be their only game in the competition, that also features Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the main England U18 side.
Italy have so far had a successful tournament, beating Ireland in midweek, 21-17, following a highly promising display against Wales last weekend, where they led at half time, only to lose 24-9.
England U18 ‘A’ have picked an exciting side. In the back division Millfield’s Cameron Brown is at scrum half, with Brighton College’s Marcus Smith outside him.
The centre partnership sees Rugby’s Tom Hardwick team up with Harrow’s Reuben Bird-Tulloch, who featured for the main side in their 15-12 win over Ireland. Bird-Tulloch’s schoolmate Elliott Obatoyinbo is on the right wing, with Bishop Wordsworth’s Cadan Murley on the left, and Warwick’s Nick David at full back.
David’s schoolmate Nick Rigby is covering tighthead prop on the bench, with Bicton College’s Marcus Street in the starting shirt and Grammar School at Leeds’ Jack Wafer at loosehead. Bromsgrove’s Beck Cutting starts at hooker, with school colleague Laurence Weston behind him in the second row alongside Malvern College’s James Scott.
The back row sees Sedbergh’s Sam Moore at 8, with Bicton College’s Charlie Wright at openside and Worcester 6th form College’s Ted Hill on the other flank.
Joining Rigby on the bench are Abingdon’s Tom Guthrie, John Cleveland’s Oscar Harper, St Paul’s Catholic College’s Tom Willis, and Leicester Tigers’ Sam Grahamslaw as forward replacements. Covering the backs are Merchant Taylors’ Will Porter, Dean Close’s Tom Seabrook, and Dion Shekells-King of King’s Worcester.
The game is the first of a double header, with England U18 playing Wales U18 in the final game of the U18 5 Nations Festival at 19.30 this evening.
England U18 ‘A’ v Italy U18 – St Helens, Swansea, 14.30
England U18 ‘A’ XV:
15 Nick David (Warwick)
14 Elliott Obatoyinbo (Harrow)
13 Reuben Bird-Tulloch (Harrow)
12 Tom Hardwick (Rugby)
11 Cadan Murley (Bishop Wordsworth’s)
10 Marcus Smith (Brighton College)
9 Cameron Brown (Millfield)
1 Jack Wafer (Grammar School at Leeds)
2 Beck Cutting (Bromsgrove)
3 Marcus Street (Bicton College)
4 Laurence Weston (Bromsgrove)
5 James Scott (Malvern College)
6 Ted Hill (Worcester 6th form College)
7 Charlie Wright (Bicton College)
8 Sam Moore (Sedbergh)
Replacements
16 Tom Guthrie (Abingdon)
17 Oscar Harper (John Cleveland College)
18 Nick Rigby (Warwick)
19 Sam Grahamslaw (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth College)
20 Tom Willis (Henley College)
21 Will Porter (Merchant Taylors’)
22 Tom Seabrook (Dean Close)
23 Dion Shekells-King (King’s Worcester)
U18 5 Nations Festival Schedule:
England 15-12 Ireland
Wales 31-30 Scotland
Ireland 43-0 Scotland
Wales 24-9 Italy
Italy 21-17 Ireland
England 45-24 Scotland
England A v Italy – St Helen’s, 6th April, 14.30
Wales v England – St Helen’s, 6th April, 19.30
