Ahead of the U18 International Series, featuring England, France, and South Africa, from the 11th to the 19th August, we are taking a look at the squads and picking out five players to watch from each.
It is a welcome return to the multi-team format, not seen since pre-Covid, as France re-enters the fray following last year’s successful South Africa v England edition. Western Province U18 will also field sides against France and England.
Each nation has a squad of 26 players, all of whom will be available on each matchday through extended replacement benches to include the extra three players.
For the players the series is a huge stepping stone on their pathway towards higher honours, and chance to experience other styles of rugby, being in camp for an extended period, and all the comes with pulling on the shirt of your nation.
For those of us with a watching brief though, one of the most exciting elements of the series, all of which will be broadcast live on SuperSports Schools, is to get an early glimpse of the superstars of the future. With that in mind, here are five to watch from the England U18 squad:
Junior Kpoku (Exeter Chiefs, Finborough)
Kpoku is a man mountain. Like his older brothers Joel and Jonathan, Junior is a second row and a huge physical presence. However it is not just size that Kpoku brings, he has plenty of skill and workrate to offer as well, allowing his school, Finborough, to use him as a number 8 in their sensational run to the Continental Tyres Schools Cup Semi Finals last season.
Exeter Chiefs are certainly impressed, luring him from Saracens to join their promising young pack of forwards including Daffyd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, and Richard Capstick. For England U18 he could be a key player in combating the strength of South Africa and France.
Kepueli Tuipulotu (South Central London Academy, Harrow)
Son of former Tonga scrum half Sione, cousin to Carwyn Tuipolotu of the Scarlets, but Kepueli is making a name for himself that might just outshine the lot. He has been a superstar for Harrow, who have just had three old boys named in the England U18 Squad, Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola, and Henry Arundell, helping them to fifteen-a-side and seven-a-side success at various age-groups. Most impressive though has been his ability to do so from multiple positions, hooker, back row, and centre, frankly he could do a job anywhere.
Squat, powerful, skilful, and frighteningly quick, Tuipulotu is a serious talent. So much so that when the All Blacks were training at Harrow last year and were short of numbers, they got him to fill in. Qualified for England, Tonga, and Wales, expect a big scrap for his services in the next couple of years.
Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans)
Jack Bracken is the son of Kyran, the former England scrum half and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, unlike his Dad he is the only Bracken plying his trade even further from the scrum, at full back or on the wing.. Hailing from St Albans School in Hertfordshire, which has seen it’s rugby really boom in recent years, in no small part due to Jack and his older brother Charlie attending alongside two other members of this England U18 side, Tayo Adegbemile and Charlie West.
Bracken is not trading on the family name though, far from it, with plenty of England U18 experience under his belt already to go alongside some fantastic performances for Saracens and St Albans. Quick and with very solid skills, Bracken is a fine player and one who thrilled earlier in the season with some spectacular long range tries – look out for more over the coming fortnight.
Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar)
Davies starred for Kirkham Grammar School last year and duly repeated the trick for Sale Sharks U18. An England U18 call up in the spring was therefore no surprise and once in camp he showed his skillset even further.
Primarily for Kirkham and Sale he has played at fly half, but through the spring he was used often in the centres for England U18, testing his defensive skills as well as his attacking ones, and Davies passed the test with flying colours. A wonderfully skilled and balanced player, Davies has all the making of a player that could go on to a long career, such is the way that he seems to take each challenge in his stride.
Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity)
Friday is the son of Mike Friday, the USA Men’s 7s Head Coach and former Wasps and England 7s star, Friday was given the honour of the Trinity School captaincy ahead of the new season, following on from their most successful season ever.
Friday was a crucial player in that, one of three players to earn England U18 honours from the school last season alongside Josh Bellamy and Conor Byrne. Now with those two gone he is the senior figure, and you suspect it is a role that will sit comfortably. A technically very proficient scrum half, Friday is comfortable under pressure and is happy to take on the kicking responsibilities. Very much a wise head on the field.
The Wider Squad
Of course, as with every team, any number of players from the squad could have been picked out, each has such strong potential, and their futures are all incredibly exciting. Have a look through the wider squad below and let us know which players you think are going to stand out.
England U18 Squad
Forwards
Tayo Adegbemile (Saracens, St Albans)
Will Conduit (Midlands West, Stourport College)
Ronan Daniell (Harlequins, Hurstpierpoint College)
Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons, Durham)
Junior Kpoku (Exeter Chiefs, Finborough)
Jack Lightbown (Sale Sharks, The Sixth Form Bolton)
Alfie Longstaff (Yorkshire Academy, Woodhouse Grove)
Jamie Miller (Harlequins, Whitgift)
Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
Solomon Shand (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury College)
Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Gravesend Grammar)
Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
Kepueli Tuipulotu (South Central London Academy, Harrow)
Charlie West (Saracens, St Albans)
Backs
Toby Baker (Bristol Bears, St Peter’s, York)
Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans)
Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar)
Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity)
Charlie Griffin (South Central London Academy, Harrow)
Angus Hall (Saracens, The Judd School, Tonbridge)
Dom Hanson (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar)
Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
Finn Newton (Saracens, Haileybury)
Louie Platt (Yorkshire Academy, Mount St. Mary’s)
Toby Wilson (Sale Sharks, Kings Macclesfield)
Finlay Wiseman (South Central London Academy, Hampton)
U18 International Series fixtures:
Friday 11th August
Venue: Boland Landou (Paarl)
15:00 (14:00 BST): England U18 vs France U18
Tuesday 15th August
Venue: Stellenberg HS (Durbanville)
13:00 (12:00 BST): England U18 vs WP U18 XV
15:00 (14:00 BST): SA U18 vs France U18
Saturday 19th August
Venue: Paarl Boys High School (Paarl)
13:00 (12:00 BST): France U18 vs WP U18 XV
15:00 (14:00 BST): SA U18 vs England U18
