With the U18 International Series fast approaching, which features England, France, and South Africa, we are looking at the squads attending and picking of five players to watch from each.
The Series runs from the 11th August to the 19th August, with games on Friday 11th August, Tuesday 15thAugust, and Saturday 19th August, with France and England also playing games against Western Province U18, all games will be broadcast live on SuperSports Schools.
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. Yesterday we picked out five players from the England squad to watch, today it is the turn of France.
Temanatua Boichot (Stade Rochelais)
It says an awful lot about the depth of quality in La Rochelle that three of their players make this five to watch, the Atlantic Coast side are simply inspiring talent through their ranks at the moment. Among that young talent coming through is Temanatua Boichot, a young scrum half that has been with the club for an impressive 7 years already. Boichot already has some France U18 international experience as well, featuring against Italy early in the year. His promise is such that he did so whilst still young for the team, now coming of age in South Africa, expect fireworks.
Gabin Garault (Stade Rochelais)
A promising hooker, Garult moved to La Rochelle last year from Niort Rugby Club and has simply not looked back. Featuring for France U18 off the bench against Italy in the early spring, where he impressed enough to get the call up to the Six Nations. There he featured in every game, off the bench against Italy and England and earning a start in a hugely impressive performance against Scotland. One to watch in a front row full of promising young talent for France.
Ellyjah Ibsaiene (CABBG)
France have been churning out impressive young number 8s for some time now, the likes of Jordan Joseph and Theo Ntamack to name just a couple. Well, Ellyjah Ibasiene is the latest of a great bunch and has all the promise to be able to be a name to be remembered for years to come. The young Bordeaux Begles man has played in every France U18 game of 2023, against Italy and both games against England ahead of the U18 Six Nations where he appeared against Italy, Scotland, and England again. Now an elder statesmen of the team (like England, this is largely a 2023/24 side for France), he will likely be a key figure on tour.
Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke (RC Massy Essonne)
Another extremely impressive young front row forward for France. Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke is a part of the Massy Club and has already put in some terrific performances in the national jersey, earning starts against England and Italy and impressing during the U18 Six Nations as well. Very much the modern loosehead, he is equally comfortable pushing in the scrum as he is taking the ball under pressure and using his feet. A fantastic player.
Diego Jurd (Stade Rochelais)
The list of talented young French fly-halves is pretty extensive at the moment, and yet still there is room for the delightful Diego Jurd. Already he has been with La Rochelle for a staggering 11 years, and this year he has featured prominently for the France U18 side, both in warm up games against England and in all three games at the U18 Six Nations Festival. He wore the starting jersey against England and Scotland, and it is hard to imagine him doing anything other than having that jersey firmly placed on his back in South Africa over the next fortnight.
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.
France U18 Squad
Thomas Alary (Stade Toulousain)
Quentin Algay (CA Brive Corrèze)
Temanatua Boichot (Stade Rochelais)
Liam Couturier (ABCD XV)
Adrien Drault (CABBG)
Eliott Duthil (US Colomiers)
Tom Emery (US Colomiers)
Gabin Garault (Stade Rochelais)
Ellyjah Ibsaiene (CABBG)
Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke (RC Massy Essonne)
Samuel Jean Christophe (RC Toulon)
Diego Jurd (Stade Rochelais)
Luka Keletaona (CA Brive Corrèze)
Dany Kevin Lamataki (SU Agen)
Tom Leveque (Aviron Bayonnais)
Nathan Llaveria (Stade Toulousain)
Thomas Marceline (Lyon OU) – Played England 3
Romeo Martin Bonnard (Stade Toulousain)
Marceau Marzullo (Stade Toulousain)
Charly Mignot (Lyon OU)
Jérémy Nemor (Stade Toulousain)
Pierre Cren Ourtaud (Castres Olympique)
Ruben-Diego Pargade (CABBG)
Bastien Rasal (Aviron Bayonnais)
Melvyn Rates (FC Grenoble)
Noé Theraube (FC Grenoble)
Ethan Tia (Stade Français)
Quentin Valentino (Stade Niçois)
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
