England have named their 26-player squad for this August’s U18 International Series in South Africa.
Jonathan Pendlebury’s side will be facing Ireland, France, and South Africa, with Georgia and South Africa A also competing in the series, with fixtures on the 12th, 16th, and 20th August. In 2023 England enjoyed a successful tour, beating Western Province and France comfortably before a hard-fought defeat to South Africa. With the series expanding this summer, England will be keen for another strong showing.
England’s games will be held across three different school venues, vs Ireland at Stellenberg High School, France at the famous Paarl Gimnasium, and South Africa at Parrl Boys High. NextGenXV’s friends SuperSport Schools will again broadcast each fixture live.
Pendlebury has named a relatively inexperienced squad, this tour serves as the start of the 2024/25 England U18 season rather than the end of 2023/24 season, with just 7 in the squad capped at U18 level.
If the group needs any inspiration, they need only look at Angus Hall, Jack Bracken, and Lucas Friday, who all toured South Africa last summer before going on to lift the World Rugby U20 Championship earlier this month.
Four of the forward pack are previously capped, with Newcastle Falcons and Durham School’s Patrick Hogg the most experienced with four caps, while Radley College’s Jonno Balding (Gloucester) and Gordon’s Elliot Williams (Harlequins) each with three, and Ipswich’s Tom Dye (Northampton Saints) has one cap.
In the back Bath’s Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League winning fly half James Linegar, of Kingswood, has four caps, while Haileybury’s Fraser Rawlins (Saracens) and Worth’s Felix Champain (Harlequins) each have two.
Rawlins is one of a remarkable 8 Saracens in the squad, with four fellow Saracens backs alongside him, Mill Hill’s Noah Caluori, Bishop Wand’s Finn Keylock, Millfield’s Ben Morrow, and St Albans’ Asa Stewart Harris, and three forwards, Matthew Branch-Holland of Ravens Wood, Campion’s Jack Marshall, and Colfe’s Jack Murphy.
Bath are also well represented with five players, the aforementioned Linegar is joined by Wellington College’s Oscar Thomas in the forwards and three fellow backs, Beechen Cliff’s Julian Nunn, Cranleigh’s Cameron Ward, and Harrow’s Sam Winters. Leicester Tigers are also well represented with three players, all in the forwards, Warwick’s Diamond Ayiehfor, Gresham’s George Marsh, and Stamford’s Ben Beere. Stamford are actually the only school side with multiple representatives, with Northampton Saints’ Ollie Hull in the squad, one of two Saints alongside Dye.
Harlequins have two players in the squad, the previously mentioned Felix Champain and Elliot Williams, likewise Newcastle Falcons with, as mentioned at the top, Hogg and fellow forward Elvis Kitenge-Fuki of Gosforth Academy.
Bristol Bears are represented by Clifton College’s Victor Worsnip, with Exeter Chiefs represented by Truro College’s George Newman. Sale Sharks see St Mary’s College’s Tom Davis selected, while the previously mentioned Jonno Balding is Gloucester’s sole representative.
Speaking ahead of the tour, England U18 Head Coach Jonathan Pendlebury said: “What we’re looking to give these young men is the experiences that will serve them well as rugby players and as people, many of whom are experiencing international age-grade rugby and travelling on a tour for the first time.”
“All of us as the Men’s Pathway staff want to see them explore as players, trust their instincts and work collaboratively as teammates. That sense of togetherness starts off the pitch and is imperative as a framework to embolden these players to do their best whilst representing England.
“We have focused on Speed as one of our key principles in recent camps, and to now follow on from the U20s in the next few weeks gives us a great deal of inspiration as this new group begin their journey on the development pathway.”
England U18 Men’s Squad: 2024 U18 International Series (Academy, School, U18 Caps)
Forwards:
Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, uncapped)
Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College, 3 caps)
Ben Beere (Leicester Tigers, Stamford School, uncapped)
Matthew Branch-Holland (Saracens, Ravens Wood, uncapped)
Tom Davis (Sale Sharks, St Mary’s College, Crosby, uncapped)
Tom Dye (Northampton Saints, Ipswich School, 1 cap)
Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, 4 caps)
Ollie Hull (Northampton Saints, Stamford School, uncapped)
Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy, uncapped)
George Marsh (Leicester Tigers, Gresham’s School, uncapped)
Jack Marshall (Saracens, The Campion School, uncapped)
Jack Murphy (Saracens, Colfes, uncapped)
Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby, Wellington College, uncapped)
Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, 3 caps)
Backs:
Noah Caluori (Saracens, Mill Hill School, uncapped)
Felix Champain (Harlequins, Worth School, 2 caps)
Finn Keylock (Saracens, Bishop Wand School, uncapped)
James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School, 4 caps)
Ben Morrow (Saracens, Millfield, uncapped)
George Newman (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College, uncapped)
Julian Nunn (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff, uncapped)
Fraser Rawlins (Saracens, Haileybury, 2 caps)
Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, St Albans, uncapped)
Cameron Ward (Bath Rugby, Cranleigh School, uncapped)
Sam Winters (Bath Rugby, Harrow School, uncapped)
Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Clifton College, uncapped)
Coaching Staff:
Jonathan Pendlebury – Head Coach
Will Parkin – Assistant Coach
Tim Newhouse – Men’s Pathway Player Development Analyst
James Hairsine – Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach
Emily Pratt – Pathway Strength & Conditioning Coach
James Clegg – Lead Physiotherapist
Steffan Griffin – Team Doctor
Carrie Exworth – Team Operations Manager
Ben Harper – Kit Man
England U18 Fixtures (All KOs BST):
England v Ireland: Monday 12th August, 12.30pm, Stellenberg High School
England v France: Friday 16th August, 10.30am, Paarl Gimnasium
England v South Africa: Tuesday 20th August, 12.30pm, Paarl Boys High
