U18 Six Nations Festival: Men’s Squads Confirmed ahead of Saturday’s Kick Off

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The U18 Six Nations Men’s and Women’s begin this weekend, and the 26-player squads for all six men’s teams have been announced.

The remaining women’s squads will likely soon be announced too, at which point we will preview that competition, the first of its kind, but for now we focus on the first men’s U18 Six Nations Festival since the 2019 Festival, which saw France as the only unbeaten side.

Rather scarily, such is the quality of young Frenchmen coming through (their U20s won back to back world titles in 2018 and 2019), few of that side have made the step into the international scene yet, though the likes of Edgar Retiere, Killian Tixeront, and Matthias Haddad cannot be too far away.

Several other sides have seen their players make the step up from that 2019 Festival to the national side though, not least Louis Rees-Zammit and Ioan Lloyd for Wales, Nathan Doak for Ireland, and Jamie Dobie for Scotland, who went unbeaten to win in 2018 and have seen the likes of Dobie, Rufus McLean, Cameron Henderson, Nathan Chamberlain, and, perhaps most of all, Rory Darge step up to the bigtime from that side.

Engand’s 2019 group won 2/3, losing to France, and two of that group have made the step to full honours, George Martin and Raffi Quirke, while Orlando Bailey, Jack Clement, and Jack van Poortvliet are among those to have come close.

It is Italy that have seen the most of their 2019 U18 Six Nations Festival squad make the step to senior international rugby though, with Riccardo Favretto, Leonardo Marin, Tommaso Menoncello, and Stephen Varney all being capped. Little wonder, Italy were on fire in 2019, beating Scotland and Wales and giving France a cracking game.

2022

So who will make the step up in 2022, well that remains to be seen but the squads are in ahead of a tough schedule. 26 players are in each squad and all 26 will be available on each given matchday, assuming they are fit and not suspended, with games on Saturday, Wednesday 13th, and Sunday 17th April.

All games will be taking place at Marcoussis, the French training base just outside of Paris, and will see the hosts and reigning champions take on Ireland on matchday one, while Scotland face Italy, and England meet Wales.

Men’s Fixtures

Saturday 9th April

France v Ireland

Italy v Scotland

Wales v England

Wednesday 13th April

England v Scotland

France v Wales

Italy v Ireland

Sunday 17th April

France v Scotland

Ireland v Wales

Italy v England

2022 U18 Six Nations Squads:

Full squad lists can be seen below, but each squad consists of 26 players, and all are born after 1st January 2004. That means that some players in their final year of school miss out due to September-December birth dates.

England are always particularly hurt by this but still name a strong squad featuring every Gallagher Premiership club except for Saracens. Newcastle Falcons are the most represented club in the squad, with four players, Gosforth Academy’s Luke Coulston, Ben Douglas, and Mike Rewcastle, and Dame Allan’s Charlie Smith.

Four teams have three players in the squad, Harlequins have Conor Byrne of Trinity, Ethan Clarke of Worthing College, and Zach Carr of Dulwich College all included, while Leicester Tigers are represented by Leicester Grammar’s Finn Carnduff, Gresham’s George Loose, and Brooksby Melton College’s Morgan Meredith.

London Irish are another with three, Bishop Wand’s Ollie Allan, Wellington College’s Rory Taylor and Hampton’s Conor Cross. The other side with three players is Northampton Saints, in Oakham’s Toby Cousins, Mark Rutherford’s Nick Tarr, and Felsted’s Craig Wright.

Elsewhere, Bristol Bears have two players, Colston’s duo Jimmy Halliwell and Paddy Pearce, so too Sale Sharks in Manchester Grammar’s Ben Motamed and AKS Lytham’s Tristan Woodman, and also Wasps, through City of Oxford pair Will Glister and Epi Rokodrava.

Bath, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, and Worcester Warriors each have one player in the squad, Sherborne’s Arthur Green, Exeter College’s Joe Bailey, Dean Close’s Ioan Jones, and Ellesmere College’s Harvey Cuckson.

Scotland have a couple of faces that will be familiar to the England squad not least Rory Taylor’s Wellington College half back partner, Murdock Lock, and Bedford forward Callum Smyth, whom the 4 Northampton Saints players in the England squad will know well.

Merchiston Castle have two players in the pack, Tom Currie and Robbie Deans, while Stewart’s Melville also have two, Elliot Young and Alfie Maitland. George Waton’s College are represented in the backs by Jack Brown, while Dollar Academy also have one player in the squad, forward Sam Wallace.

Elsewhere, Strathallan see Alexander Thom included, and Robert Gordon’s College have Andrew McLean as part of the backline, also in the backs are Erlston High’s Luke Townsend and Queen Victoria School’s Amena Caqusau, as well as St Aloysius’ College’s John Ventisei and West College’s Euan Muirhead. Up in the back Firhill High are represented by Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, and his Boroughmuir Bears colleague, Liam McConnell of Boroughmuir High, is also included. St Leonards Madras see Barlomiej Brylak in the squad, with Glasgow Academy represented by Ruaraidh Hart, Edinburgh BATS by Euan McVie, and Selkirk High by Monroe Job.

From a club perspective, Hawick RFC and Melrose are represented by Marcus Brogan and Ben Weir, Jed Thistle by Hector Patterson, Gala by Kerr Johnston, Musselburgh by Finlay Thomson, and Stirling County by Logan Jarvie.

For Wales things are looking exciting, and Seaford College’s Jonny Green will be looking forward to going up against Harlequins teammates Carr, Clarke, and Byrne when Wales take on England, while Bristol Bears’ Gabe Lacey will be up against his club colleagues Halliwell and Pearce. He is joined in the squad by Millfield’s Ioan Emanuel, one of seven Cardiff players in the squad, alongside Kenzie Jenkins, Lucas de la Rua, Harry Beddall, Orson James, Harri Wilde, and Hartpury College’s Louir Hennessey.

Dragons, who won the U18 Regional Championships, have an impressive eight players in the squad, Huw Anderson, Cameron Davies, Harri Ackerman, Ioan Duggan, Walker Price, and Sam Berry in the backs, and Morgan Williams, Conall Cough, and Nicholas Thomas in the forwards.

Ospreys contribute five players, Rhodri Lewis and Isaac Morgan in the back and Kian Hire, Lewis Marsh, and Morgan Morse in the pack, Isaac Young William Rees, and Gianluca Giannini are Scarlets’ three representatives.

Ireland, meanwhile have selected exclusively from Ireland, with Leinster, Munster, and Ulster represented. Leinster have the most in the squad with 12, including eight of the twelve backs. Blackrock College contribute four players, Inigo Curise O’Brien, Oliver Coffey, Luke Kritzinger, and Reuben Moloney, while St Michael’s College have two players in the squad, Tom Stewart and Sam Berman, so too Presentation College Bray, through Jack Murphy and Finn Treacy. Kilkenny College also see two players in the squad, Stephen Smyth and Sean Naughton, while Gonzaga College’s sole representative is Hugo McLaughlin, and St Mary’s College’s Andrew Sparrow.

Munster also have a strong contingent, with ten representatives, Presentation Brothers College Cork have a strong representation in Danny Sheehan, Jacob Sheahan, and Ben O’Connor, while Castletroy College have Evan O’Connell and Stephen Kiely included, Ard Scoil Ris also have two players in the squad, Emmett Calvey and Harry Long, while St Munchins, Christian Brothers, and Rockwell all have one player each, Jake O’Riordan, Kamil Novak, and Brian Gleeson respectively.

Ulster are represented by four players, all in the forwards, Cambell College’s Joe Hopes and Zac Solomon, Methodist College’s Josh Stevens, and RBA’s Jacob Boyd.

Italy have plenty of interest in their squad to those on the north side of the Channel, with Sedbergh’s Nicola Bozzo, City of Oxford College’s Lorenzo Casilio, and Samuel Whitbread Academy’s Sam Luciano Ferrari all included.

France, meanwhile are a more unknown quantity on these shores but are almost certain to be a huge threat when the play begins on their home surface at Marcoussis as they look to defend their title.

England

Ollie Allan (London Irish, Bishop Wand)
Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
Conor Byrne (Harlequins, Trinity)
Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers, Leicester Grammar)
Zach Carr (Harlequins, Dulwich College)
Ethan Clarke (Harlequins, Worthing College)
Luke Coulston (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy)
Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints, Oakham)
Connor Cross (London Irish, Hampton)
Harvey Cuckson (Worcester Warriors, Ellesmere College)
Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy)
Will Glister (Wasps, City of Oxford College)
Arthur Green (Bath Rugby, Sherborne)
Jimmy Halliwell (Bristol Bears, Colston’s)
Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Dean Close)
George Loose (Leicester Tigers, Gresham’s)
Morgan Meredith (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby Melton College)
Ben Motamed (Sale Sharks, Manchester Grammar)
Paddy Pearce (Bristol Bears, Colston’s)
Mike Rewcastle (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy)
Epi Rokodrava (Wasps, City of Oxford College)
Charlie Smith (Newcastle Falcons, Dame Allan’s)
Nick Tarr (Northampton Saints, Mark Rutherford)
Rory Taylor (London Irish, Wellington College)
Tristan Woodman (Sale Sharks, AKS Lytham)
Craig Wright (Northampton Saints, Felsted)

France

Zaccharie AFFANE (FC Grenoble/APER Grenoble)

Léo AMETLLA (Provence Rugby/APER Aix-en-Provence)

Théo ATTISSOGBE (Stade Montois)

Maxence BIASOTTO (US Montauban/APER Toulouse)

Hoani BOSMORIN (Stade Rochelais)

Adam BOUARE (Montpellier HR)

Mathis CASTRO FERREIRA (Stade Toulousain/APER Toulouse)

Léo CHAUVIN (CA Bègles Bordeaux G/APER Talence)

Bastien CHINARRO (USA Perpignan)

Marko GAZZOTTI (FC Grenoble/APER Grenoble)

Simon HUCHET (Stade Rochelais/APER La Rochelle)

Lomig JOUANNY (US Montauban/APER Toulouse)

Lino JULIEN (USO Nevers)

Brent LIUFAU (Section Paloise/APER Pau)

Yannick LODJRO (COM Bagneux/Stade Français)

Barnabé MASSA (FC Grenoble/APER Grenoble)

Tom RAFFY (CA Brive CL/APER Brive)

Hugo REUS (CA Bègles Bordeaux G/APER Talence)

Gabin ROCHER (FC Grenoble/APER Grenoble)

Titoan ROUVELET (Montpellier HR/APER Montpellier)

Thomas SOUVERBIE (Section Paloise/APER Pau)

Karsen TALALUA (FC Grenoble/APER Grenoble)

Andy TIMO (RC Massy)

Emilien TREZIERES (CA Bègles Bordeaux G/APER Talence)

Lucas ZAMORA (Stade Rochelais/APER La Rochelle)

Noa ZINZEN (Racing Club France)

Ireland

Forwards
Jacob Boyd (Ulster/Royal Belfast Academical Institute)
Emmett Calvey (Munster/Ard Scoil Ris)
Inigo Cruise O’Brien (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Brian Gleeson (Munster/Rockwell College)
Joe Hopes (Ulster/Campbell College)
Kamil Novak (Munster/Christian Brothers College)
Evan O’Connell (Munster/Castletroy College)
Danny Sheehan (Munster/Presentation Brothers College Cork)
Jacob Sheahan (Munster/Presentation Brothers College Cork)
Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
Zac Solomon (Ulster/Campbell College)
Andrew Sparrow (Leinster/St Mary’s College)
Tom Stewart (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
Josh Stevens (Ulster/Methodist College)

Backs 
Sam Berman (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
Oliver Coffey (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Stephen Kiely (Munster/Castletroy College)
Luke Kritzinger (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Harry Long (Munster/Ard Scoil Ris)
Hugo McLaughlin (Leinster/Gonzaga College)
Ruben Moloney (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Jack Murphy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray)
Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
Ben O’Connor (Munster/Presentation Brothers College Cork)
Jake O’Riordan (Munster/St Munchins College)
Finn Treacy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray)

Italy

Davide Ascari (Rugby Colorno 1975)

Matteo Bianco (Pol. S.S. Lazio Rugby 1927)

Jacopo Botturi (Transvecta Calvisano)

Nicola Bozzo (Sedbergh School)

Simone Brisighella (Rugby Viadana 1970)

Lorenzo Casilio (City of Oxford College, Wasps)

Giovanni Cinquegrani (Benneton Rugby Treviso)

Lorenzo Elettri (Verona Rugby)

Sam Luciano Ferrari (Samuel Whitbread, Northampton Saints)

Tommaso Ferrari (Unione Rugby Capitolina)

Andrea Frattolillo (Rugby Petrarca)

Marcos Francesco Gallorini (Vasari Junior Arezzo)

Francesco Gandossi (Rugby Rovato)

Nicholas Gasperini (Rugby Perugia)

Francesco Imberti (Cus Torino)

Mattia Jiminez (Rugby Petrarca)

Samuele Mirenzi (VII Rugby Torini)

Lorenzo Nanni (Livorno Rugby)

Vittorio Padovani (Benneton Rugby Treviso)

Marco Scalabrin (Benneton Rugby Treviso)

Valerio Siciliano (Unione Rugby Capitolina)

Tommaso Simoni (Valpolicella Rugby 197)

Federico Telandro (Rugby Petrarca)

Andrea Toninelli (Rugby Rovato)

Giacomo Vanzella (Benneton Rugby Treviso)

Cesare Zucconi (Cavalieri Union R.Prato Sesto)

Scotland

Forwards
Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Firhill High School/Boroughmuir Bears)
Marcus Brogan (Hawick RFC)
Tom Currie (Merchiston Castle School)
Robbie Deans (Merchiston Castle School)
Monroe Job (Selkirk High School/Selkirk Rugby Club)
Alfie Maitland (Stewarts Melville College)
Liam McConnell (Boroughmuir High School/Boroughmuir Bears)
Elliot Young (Stewarts Melville College)
Euan McVie (Edinburgh BATS)
Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Academy)
Ben Weir (Melrose Rugby)
Bartlomiej Brylak (St Leonards Madras)
Callum Smyth (Bedford School/Northampton Saints)
Sam Wallace (Dollar Academy)

Backs
Luke Townsend (Earlston High School/Melrose Rugby)
Amena Caqusau (Queen Victoria School)
Hector Patterson (Jed Thistle RFC)
Andrew McLean (Robert Gordons College)
Alexander Thom (Strathallan)
John Ventisei (St Aloysius College)
Euan Muirhead (West College/Dumfries Saints)
Kerr Johnston (Gala RFC)
Murdock Lock (Wellington College/Harlequins)
Finlay Thomson (Musselburgh RFC)
Jack Brown (George Watsons College)
Logan Jarvie (Stirling County)

Wales

Forwards

Ioan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
Morgan Williams (Dragons)
Isaac Young (Scarlets)
William Rees (Scarlets)
Conall Couch (Dragons)
Kian Hire (Ospreys)
Jonny Green (Harlequins)
Lewis Marsh (Ospreys)
Nicholas Thomas (Dragons)
Gianluca Giannini (Scarlets)
Kenzie Jenkins (Cardiff Rugby)
Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby)
Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
Harry Beddall (Cardiff Rugby)

Backs
Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys)
Orson James (Cardiff Rugby)
Sam Berry (Dragons)
Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
Walker Price (Dragons Wing
Ioan Duggan (Dragons)
Harri Ackerman (Dragons)
Louie Hennessey (Cardiff Rugby/Hartpury)
Cameron Davies (Dragons)
Gabe Lacey (Bristol Bears)
Isaac Morgan (Ospreys)
Huw Anderson (Dragons)

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