England Men’s U18 Head Coach Jonathan Pendlebury has named his squad for the forthcoming U18 Six Nations Festival in Parma, Italy.
A 26-man squad has been named for the tournament, who will depart on Tuesday 26th March, which will see the competition head to Italy for the first time, with the Stadio Sergio Lanfanchi in Parma the host venue.
Pendlebury has selected 14 forwards and 12 backs for the Festival, players must be born after the 1st January to be eligible for the tournament, and there is one survivor from last year’s tournament, Trinity School’s Harlequins scrum half, Lucas Friday, who has had a torrid year with injury after an impressive summer tour of South Africa. His return to action is a welcome boost for all.
Friday is one of six Harlequins in the squad, his whole front row joins him, Seaford College hooker Jimmy Staples, Gordon’s tighthead Ollie Streeter, and Whitgift loosehead Jamie Miller who, like Friday, featured in the England U18 tour of South Africa back in August. Also in from Harlequins is Streeter’s Gordon’s teammate Elliot Williams, and Friday’s half back parter, Worth’s Felix Bateman-Champain.
Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs each have three players in the squad, unsurprisingly perhaps after finishing second and fourth in the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League this year. Saints see two Bedford pupils selected, second row Aiden Ainsworth-Cave and scrum half Jonny Weimann, as well as Stowe winger Rafe Witheat.
Exeter Chiefs meanwhile see a two Exeter College pupils in the squad, Nick Lilley, the centre that starred in South Africa for England in the summer, and his centre partner Isral Akinrowo. Truro College prop Josh Mann is the third Exeter Chief in the squad.
Without Kirkham Grammar School’s Ollie Davies, who unfortunately misses out due to injury, Bath and Kingswood star James Linegar, who was instrumental in Bath’s Academy League title success will be key at 10. Linegar’s Bath and Beechen Cliff captain Connor Treacey, who skippered one of the games in that summer tour, is also selected as one of four out and out back row in the squad and will be the squad captain for the campaign.
Sale Sharks have two players in the squad, captain Seb Kelly the Kirkham Grammar School back row, and full back Dan Green of St Ambrose College.
Kelly and Treacey are joined in the back row by two Gloucester players, Dean Close’s Olly Allport and Hartpury College’s Solomon Shand, another of those that was a key player in South Africa over the summer. Radley College lock Jonno Balding makes it three Cherry & Whites in the squad.
Saracens are another with two players in the squad, both are from Haileybury, back three player Finn Newton, who was on fine form in South Africa back in August, and Fraser Rawlins, who has had a brilliant season and is comfortable at centre or wing.
Many readers will be familiar with one of their fellow potential back three players, Wellington College wing Tyler Offiah. The London & South Central star is the son of legendary former Wigan Warriors flyer Martin Offiah. Fellow centrally run academies Midlands Central and Midlands West both also have one player in the squad each, George Pearson the City of Oxford College full back and George Knowles the Hereford Cathedral hooker respectively.
Newcastle Falcons have two players in the squad, their skipper and Durham School second row, Patrick Hogg, and his schoolmate Sam Graham, the tighthead prop.
The 26 players will head out to Parma on Tuesday 26th March and will play three games in the Festival, facing Wales at 5.45pm on Saturday 30th March, Scotland at 1.15pm on Wednesday 3rd April, and Georgia, who have joined the Festival this year alongside Portugal, at 3.30pm on Sunday 7th April before returning to the UK on Monday 8th April.
England Men’s U18 Six Nations Festival Squad:
Forwards (14)
Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints & Bedford)
Olly Allport (Gloucester & Dean Close)
Jonno Balding (Gloucester & Radley College)
Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons & Durham)
Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons & Durham)
Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks & Kirkham GS)
George Knowles (Midlands West & Hereford Cathedral)
Josh Mann (Exeter Chiefs & Truro College)
Jamie Miller (Harlequins & Whitgift)
Solomon Shand (Gloucester & Hartpury College)
Jimmy Staples (Harlequins & Seaford College)
Ollie Streeter (Harlequins & Gordon’s)
Connor Treacey (Bath & Beechen Cliff, captain)
Backs (12)
Israel Akinrowo (Exeter Chiefs & Exeter College)
Felix Bateman-Champain (Harlequins & Worth)
Lucas Friday (Harlequins & Trinity)
Dan Green (Sale Sharks & St Ambrose College)
Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs & Exeter College)
James Linegar (Bath & Kingswood)
Finn Newton (Saracens & Haileybury)
Tyler Offiah (London South Central & Wellington College)
George Pearson (Midlands Central & City of Oxford College)
Fraser Rawlins (Saracens & Haileybury)
Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints & Bedford)
Elliot Williams (Harlequins & Gordons)
Rafe Witheat (Northampton Saints & Stowe)
England Men’s U18 Six Nations Festival Fixtures:
England v Wales – Saturday 30th March, 5.45pm
England v Scotland – Wednesday 3rd April, 1.15pm
England v Georgia – Sunday 7th April, 3.30pm
