Just days after announcing their 2018 National Squad, the ISRFC Lambs have named their side to face Irish Exiles U18 at Maidenhead RFC.
The game take place this Sunday, 14th, kicking off at 2pm on the artificial surface at Maidenhead RFC and they will be back in action again soon after, facing Exeter Chiefs’ academy for the first time on Sunday 21st January.
Over the years this fixture has proven to be a bit of a classic, going down to the wire time and time again. Last year the Lambs won 27-25, a late George Hartson try and Tom Pittman conversion proving decisive.
As well as their team for Sunday, the Lambs have also announced their Leadership Group for the season. Two co-captains have been announced, Felsted’s Will Barker and Bedford’s Alife Orchard. Both start on Sunday, with Barker at number 8 and Orchard at fly half.
Six vice-captains have also been named, Cheltenham College’s Aiden Ali, Grammar School at Leeds’ Harrison Emmett-Lee, Ampleforth College’s Tom Eyston, Pangbourne College’s Sasha Efimov, Trinity’s John Petty, and Felsted’s Oliver Hills.
Four of the six are in Sunday’s 23, with Harrison Emmett-Lee starting at scrum half and Eyston starting at loosehead, Petty and Efimov are both on the bench.
Outside half backs Emmett-Lee and Orchard St Peter’s York’s Alex Liley is at inside centre, with record breaking try scorer at Wisbech Grammar, Oliver Mann, at outside centre. Liley’s schoolmate Charles Hudson is at full back, while Queen Ethelburga’s Darren Ali-Scott and Stockport Grammar’s William Kay are the two wingers.
Kay’s schoolmate William Spendlove props alongside vice-captain Eyston, with Berkhamsted’s Hugh Phillipson at hooker. The second row consists of Abingdon’s Max Humphries and Readley College’s Paddy Langdale.
Joining co-captain Barker in the back row are King’s Macclesfield’s Owen Jones on the blindside and another Berkhamsted star in Oliver Perkins at openside.
Alongside vice-captains Petty and Edimov on the bench are who Reed’s players, Harry Mason and Beau Roberts, with Millfield’s Henry Massey, Kingswood’s Harry Taylor, Wisbech Grammar School’s Jack Trundley, and a third Berkhamsted representative, Louis Cooper.
Speaking ahead of the game, Lambs National Director Alex Laybourne said:
“In the last three seasons this game has been separated by a combined four points, it is always a thrilling encounter with plenty of running rugby on offer.”
“The fixture is a quick turnaround from squad selection last Sunday, but it is the perfect way for us to open the season. Both the Management and squad are thoroughly looking forward to kicking off the 2018 Lambs National fixture programme.”
ISRFC Lambs Leadership Group:
Captains:
Will Barker (Felsted), Alfie Orchard (Bedford)
Vice-Captains:
Aiden Ali (Cheltenham College), Harrison Emmett-Lee (Grammar School at Leeds), Tom Eyston (Ampleforth College), Sasha Efimov (Pangbourne College), John Petty (Trinity), Oliver Hills (Felsted).
ISRFC Lambs XV v Irish Exiles U18:
15 Charles Hudson (St Peter’s, York), 14 Darren Ali-Scott (Queen Ethelburga’s), 13 Oliver Mann (Wisbech GS), 12 Alex Liley (St Peter’s, York), 11 William Kay (Stockport GS), 10 Alfie Orchard (Bedford, co-captain), 9 Harrison Emmett-Lee (Grammar School at Leeds, vc), 1 Tom Eyston (Amplfeforth College, vc), 2 Hugh Phillipson (Berkhamsted), 3 William Spendlove (Stockport GS), 4 Max Humphries (Abingdon), 5 Paddy Langdale (Radley College), 6 Owen Jones (King’s Macclesfield), 7 Oliver Perkins (Berkhamsted), 8 William Barker (Felsted, co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Harry Mason (Reed’s), 17 Henry Massey (Millfield), 18 John Petty (Trinity, vc), 19 Harry Taylor (Kingswood), 20 Louis Cooper (Berkhamsted), 21 Jack Trundley (Wisbech GS), 22 Beau Roberts (Reed’s), 23 Sasha Efimov (Pangbourne College, vc).
ISRFC Lambs Season Schedule
Sunday 14th January
Irish Exiles (14.00, Maidenhead RFC)
Sunday 21st January
Exeter Chiefs (10.45, Exeter University)
Sunday 4th February
Nottingham University U19s (14.00, Nottingham University)
Sun 18th February
Boys Club of Wales (15.00, Merthyr)
Tuesday 27th February
Northampton Saints (19.00, TBC)
Saturday 3rd March
Club Atletico San Isidro U19 (12.00, Nottingham University)
Saturday 24th March
Old Boys (11.00, Aylesbury RFC)
30th March – 11th April
Tour, Croatia and Italy
Sunday 15th April
Crawshays Welsh (Venue & ko TBC)
Sunday 22nd April
Gloucester (14.30, Hartpury RFC)
