The NatWest Schools Cup Academy Day squads have been picked by former England international, Mark Cueto.
Cueto selected 30 players, fifteen U15s and fifteen U18s from this season’s NatWest Schools Cup to experience a day in the life of an elite player. Nominations were open to every team that entered the competition at either age-group, regardless of whether they ended up in the Cup or the Vase as the competitions went on.
The thirty players will meet at Pennyhill Park, England’s training base in Surrey, on Sunday 22nd May, where an England legend will host them and they will train with three current England players. They will then go through video footage of the session with the England players and a top sports scientist.
Interestingly, neither of the two Cup winning sides, Bromsgrove at U18 and Sedbergh at U15, have any players in the squads. Indeed the only player from any of the winning sides that will be making the trip is James Tunney of Dr Challoner’s U15 side, Tunney scored a hat-trick to help his side to victory in the U15 Vase final.
There are some very exciting players in the squads, and in the U18 squad there are some players with some outstanding playing credentials already.
Perhaps the most impressive is Gabriel Ibitoye of Trinity in the U18 squad. Ibitoye captained England U18 in the recent U18 5 Nations Festival, and also represented England U19 on Saturday in their draw with France.
He is joined in the squad by his schoolmate Charlie Fatoma, who recently played at fly half for the England Counties U18 side, where he was alongside Mount St Mary’s College’s Sam Jones, who is also named.
Bishop Wordsworth’s Cadan Murley, who recently played for England U17, is also selected, along with three players involved with England U16 on Sunday, Harrow’s Will Glover, and the St Ambrose College pair of Tom Walsh and Connor Doherty.
There is plenty of excitement surrounding the remaining eight players too, including KCS Wimbledon’s Jake Hennessey, who starred for Harlequins U18, Gunnersbury’s Tom O’Halloran, Hutton Grammar’s Jacob Browne, Phil Rhodes of Prince Henry’s, Royal Alexandra and Albert’s Dominic Streete Bharath, The Leys’ Freddie McKibbin, Haileybury’s Seb Brownhill, and Will Poland of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School.
Bishop Vesey’s also have a player in the U15 squad, Daniel Black. He and Tunney join Colston’s pair Blake Boyland and Jake Whitfield.
Colston’s are one of three schools in the U15 squad with two representatives. Shebbear College are represented by Charlie Short and Stuart Williams, while St Albans’ Ayo-Oluwa Olukotun and Cameron Furley are both selected.
Wellington College were runners up in the U15 Cup, Jake Reid is called up from their squad, alongside Edward Crowne of Oundle and Daniel Couldrake of Northampton School for Boys, whose U18s won the Vase.
Aaron Lawes of King Edward’s VI Five Ways, Finlay Boader of Huish Academy, and Bridgewater’s Josh Hadland complete the U15 squad.
U18 NatWest Schools Cup Academy Day Squad | |
Name | School |
Will Poland | Bishop Vesey’s Grammar |
Cadan Murley (U17) | Bishop Wordsworth’s |
Tom O’Halloran | Gunnersbury |
Seb Brownhill | Haileybury |
Will Glover (U16) | Harrow |
Jacob Browne | Hutton Grammar |
Jake Hennessey | KCS Wimbledon |
Freddie McKibbin | The Leys |
Sam Jones (Counties) | Mount St Mary’s College |
Phil Rhodes | Prince Henry’s Grammar |
Dominic Streete Bharath | Royal Alexandra & Albert |
Connor Doherty (U16) | St Ambrose College |
Tom Walsh (U16) | St Ambrose College |
Charlie Fatoma (Counties) | Trinity |
Gabriel Ibitoye (U18) | Trinity |
U185 NatWest Schools Cup Academy Day Squad | |
Name | School |
Daniel Black | Bishop Vesey’s Grammar |
Josh Hadland | Bridgewater High School |
Blake Boyland | Colston’s |
Jake Whitfield | Colston’s |
James Tunney | Dr Challoner’s |
Finlay Boader | Huish Academy |
Aaron Lawes | King Edward VI Five Ways |
Daniel Couldrake | Northampton School for Boys |
Edward Crowne | Oundle |
Charlie Short | Shebbear College |
Stuart Williams | Shebbear College |
Ayo-Oluwa Olukotun | St Albans |
Cameron Furley | St Albans |
Brooke Turner | St Peter’s, Gloucester |
Jack Reid | Wellington College |
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