England Counties U18 have named their squad for April’s tour of Ireland, against Ireland U18 Clubs and School.
The two will meet on Wednesday 24th April and Saturday 27th April in Dublin, prior to which the England Counties U18 squad will gather at HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth to begin preparations.
A 23-man squad has been selected following the regional trials and a national development weekend at Stourbridge RFC. Dave Penberthy is the Team Manager, with Giles Heagerty once again the Head Coach, Andrew Rickard and Matt Hutchings will also be part of the coaching and management team.
England were hosts last time out, winning two tight but contrasting games 15-13 and 32-29, getting Ireland back after losing both to Ireland away in 2017.
This years squad is selected from twenty-two different schools, only Hayes School in Kent have more than one representative, with both Beau Farrance and Joel Chance in the squad.
Six players in the squad come from AASE College’s, Louis Beer from Moulton College, Brooksby Melton College’s Josh Brown, Jack Goodwin of Hartpury College, Elliot McPhun of Oaklands College, Truro College’s Ethan Pearce-Cowley, and Henley Colleges Charles Scott.
Sixteen different counties are represented, Kent have the most players in the squad with three, while Hertfordshire, Northumberland, Berkshire, and Devon all have two each.
Speaking to www.englandrugby.com about the squad, Dave Penberthy said:
“Every year I’m incredibly impressed by the skill level on show at our national development weekend and this year was no different, the selected players have done exceptionally well and they should all be incredibly proud of reaching this stage.”
“Pulling on the white shirt at any level is a great honour and I’m sure the players are aware of that. We know Ireland will be very strong and so our job is to create an environment that our players can thrive in.”
England Counties U18 Squad:
Jacob Bailey (Denstone College), Louis Beer (Moulton College), Thomas Bloomer (Churcher’s College), Josh Brown (Brooksby Melton College), Max Brown (Watford Grammar), Maxwell Bullock (Sir Joseph Williamson’s), Mathew Burns (Ivybridge Community College), Joel Chance (Hayes), Ben Chapman (Skinners’), Oliver Chessum (Carre’s Grammar), Beau Farrance (Hayes), Jack Goodwin (Hartpury College), William Harding-Terry (Worksop College), Alessandro Heaney (Wellington College), Louis Kendrick (Richard Hale), Elliot McPhun (Oaklands College), Tyler Norwood (Caterham), Harry Oliver (Wilmslow High), Ethan Pearce-Cowley (Truro College), Charles Scott (Henley College) William Smith (Queen Elizabeth’s 6th form College), Sebastian Tooke (Plymouth College), Fergus Walker (Millfield).
