The ISRFC Lambs play their final game of the season on Sunday, against the Gloucester Academy.
It will be a double header, with both the U18s and the U16s playing at Stow on the Wold RFC near Cheltenham. For the U18s it is a final chance to pull on the pink shirt, while for the 16s, it is a chance to keep themselves in the shop window for U18 selection in the future.
Both sides recently enjoyed fiercly competitive tours, with the U18s touring Croatia and Italy, facing Italy U19 in their final game, and the U16s competing the Colwyn Bay U16 Festival, where they faced 3 Scotland U16 teams.
The U18s are again skippered by inspirational Bedford fly half Alfie Orchard, who will be hoping to guide the team to a win after letting one slip away against Crawshays Welsh on Sunday.
He is joined by two key lieutenants from the Croatia and Italy tour, King’s Macclesfield’s Owen Jones in the second row and Wisbech Grammar School’s Bradley Hutler at number 8.
Joining Hutler in the back row are two other top performers on tour, Cheltenham College’s Aiden Ali and Felsted’s Tyler Tomlinson. Kingswood’s Harry Taylor joins Jones in the second row.
The front row sees the experienced Didi Vidal-Adegun of Bishop’s Stortford at loosehead, with Trinity’s John Petty acting as one of the vice-captain’s, along with Ali, at tighthead. Rugby’s Samuel Wright is at hooker.
In the backline Grammar School at Leeds’ Harrison Emmett-Lee joins Orchard in the half backs, with Stamford’s Byron Van Uden and Wisbech Grammar’s Oliver Mann rekindling their centre partnership.
Royal Hospital School’s Elliot Rayment is at full back, with Stockport Grammar School’s William Kay and Queen Ethelburga’s Darren Ali-Scott on the wings.
The U18s kick of at 2.30pm, following the U16 curtain raiser, which starts at 11.30am. The U16s are led by St John’s Leatherhead number 8 Sam Smedley, with The Perse’s Patrick Noroozi and Trinity’s Ayo Onabolu joining him in the back row.
There is a real Tonbridge flavor to the rest of the back, with Barnes Darlington and Will Rees-Young propping either side of Uppingham’s Henry Langord, while Luc Bowkley is in the second row alongside King’s College Taunton’s James White.
White is one of three King’s College Taunton players in the starting fifteen, with Milo Blakey at full back and Will Brooke-Webb on the left wing. Churcher’s College’s Ben Kay completes the back three.
Epsom College fly half James Webster will act as vice captain, with Harrow’s Will Shankland his half back partner. Haileybury’s Louis Aylwin and Trinity’s Archie Warren making up the centre partnership.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s final fixtures of the Lambs season, National Director Alex Laybourne said:
“A double header against Gloucester Rugby is a phenomenally exciting way to round off the season. Sunday will be another great experience for the boys, both 16s and 18s.”
“This group of U18 players have come a long way since the opening game of the season, where they beat Exeter, and have been through a number of experiences that will stand them in good stead ahead of this game.”
“Alfie (Orchard) and the Leadership group have brought them along on and off the pitch and we are excited for an enjoyable end to the season and another true Lambs style performance.”
“The 16s have come on a huge amount and have learnt a great deal from the process, the environment, each other and the oppositions they have faced, including an unbeaten Boys Club of Wales side and three Scotland sides. We are looking forward to another great game of rugby to finish the season off in style.”
ISRFC Lambs v Gloucester Academy – Stow-on-the-Wold RFC
U16s – 11.30am kick off
U18s – 2.30pm kick off
ISRFC Lambs U18 XV v Gloucester:
15 Elliot Rayment (Royal Hospital School), 14 William Kay (Stockport Grammar), 13 Oliver Mann (Wisbech Grammar), 12 Byron Van Uden (Stamford), 11 Darren Ali-Scott (Queen Ethelburga’s), 10 Alfie Orchard (Bedford, captain), 9 Harrison Emmett-Lee (Grammar School at Leeds), 1 Didi Vidal-Adegun (Bishop’s Stortford College), 2 Samuel Wright (Rugby), 3 John Petty (Trinity), 4 Owen Jones (King’s Macclesfield), 5 Harry Taylor (Kingswood), 6 Tyler Tomlinson (Felsted), 7 Aiden Ali (Cheltenham College), 8 Bradley Hutler (Wisbech Grammar).
Replacements: 16 Harry Mason (Reed’s), 17 William Spendlove (Stockport Grammar), 18 Oliver Perkins (Berkhamsted), 19 Harrison Stiles (Framlingham College), 20 Alex Liley (St Peter’s, York), 21 Tom Watson (Framlingham College), 22 Arran Borland (Bedford), 23 TBC.
ISRFC Lambs U16 XV v Gloucester:
15 Milo Blakey (King’s College, Taunton), 14 Ben Kay (Churcher’s College), 13 Archie Warren (Trinity), 12 Louis Aylwin (Haileybury), 11 Will Brooke-Webb (King’s College, Taunton), 10 James Webster (Epsom College, vc), 9 Will Shankland (Harrow), 1 Barnes Darlington (Tonbridge), 2 Henry Langford (Uppingham), 3 Will Rees-Young (Tonbridge), 4 James White (King’s College, Taunton), 5 Luc Bowkley (Tonbridge), 6 Ayo Onabolu (Trinity), 7 Patrick Noroozi (The Perse), 8 Sam Smedley (St John’s, Leatherhead, captain).
Replacements: 16 Toby Tyson (Cranleigh), 17 Tristan Smith (Felsted), 18 Carlson White (Uppingham), 19 Joe Messenger (King’s College, Taunton, 20 Joe Jenner (Reigate Grammar), 21 Toby Warren (New Hall), 22 Marcus Marchant (Dulwich College).
