England have named their side for their opening game of the U18 International Series against Ireland on Monday 12th August, 12.30pm KO (BST).
Jonathan Pendlebury’s side will open the series live on SuperSport Schools against their fellow Six Nations side before Georgia take on South Africa A in the second game of the day. The fixture list has been rejigged from the original format following the withdrawl of France from the series following the tragic news that one of their players, Medhi Narjissi, had been swept out to sea earlier in the week.
That means that on matchday 2, Friday 16th August, England will now play Georgia instead of France, while their third game, on Tuesday 20th August, will still be against South Africa as originally scheduled.
All game will be live on SuperSport Schools.
Pendlebury has named Durham School’s Patrick Hogg as tour captain, and the Newcastle Falcons starts on the blindside flank for this encounter and will be earning his fifth U18 International cap.
Bath and Beechen Cliff star Connor Treacey has been drafted into the squad late, replacing George Marsh, and he will start at number 8 and bring valuable experience and leadership having captained England U18 in one of last year’s U18 International Series fixtures.
That leadership will be important, eight of the fifteen will be earning their first caps, with ten on the bench in the same position. On debut alongside Treacey and Hogg is Campion’s Jack Marshall, while in the front from St Mary’s College’s Tom Davis makes his debut at hooker and Stamford’s Ben Beere earns a first cap at tighthead.
St Albans provided three of last year’s touring squad, and they have one in the squad this year in the form of scrum half Asa Stewart-Harris, who will make his debut, likewise the entire back three, wings Noah Caluori of Mill Hill and Julian Nunn of Beechen Cliff, with Harrow’s superstar Sam Winters at full back. Outside centre Victor Worsnip of Clifton College is the other debutant in the starting fifteen.
Elsewhere there is good experience, with Kingswood’s James Linegar set to earn a fifth cap at fly half, and in the front row Gordon’s Elliot Williams and Radley College’s Jonno Balding will both earn their fourth, Tom Dye of Ipswich starts at loosehead for his second cap. Meanwhile Worth’s Felix Champain starts at 12 rather than his usual 10 to earn his third cap.
The rest of the touring party are all available on the bench, though only Haileybury’s Fraser Rawlins has prior U18 International experience, earning two caps earlier in the year.
Speaking ahead of the game, Jonathan Pendlebury said: “Coming off the back of a productive few camp meetings at the Hazelwood Centre, our approach is beginning to take shape with our young group which has been incredibly pleasing.”
“We’re seeking to continue the relentless attitude that has been the cornerstone of our approach to getting better since our first meeting as an U17 squad at Hartpury College last season. It’s been a great privilege to see the development of the boys and their willingness to get going has been impressive thus far.”
“The players have taken a lot of inspiration from the U20 Men’s group and want to make their own mark on a tour. We as a coaching group want to see our principles of Exploration and Speed implemented from minute one on Monday through the following 10 days, and most importantly, we want our boys to return home better rugby players and people as a result of these experiences.”
England U18 Men’s team to face Ireland
15 Sam Winters (Bath Rugby, Harrow School, uncapped)
14 Noah Caluori (Saracens, Mill Hill School, uncapped)
13 Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Clifton College, uncapped)
12 Felix Champain (Harlequins, Worth School, 2 caps)
11 Julian Nunn (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff, uncapped)
10 James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School, 4 caps)
9 Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, St Albans, uncapped)
1 Tom Dye (Northampton Saints, Ipswich School, 1 cap)
2 Tom Davis (Sale Sharks, St Mary’s College, Crosby, uncapped)
3 Ben Beere (Leicester Tigers, Stamford School, uncapped)
4 Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, 3 caps)
5 Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College, 3 caps)
6 Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, 4 caps, captain)
7 Jack Marshall (Saracens, The Campion School, uncapped)
8 Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff, 7 caps)
Replacements:
16 Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby, Wellington College, uncapped)
17 Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy, uncapped)
18 Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, uncapped)
19 Jack Murphy (Saracens, Colfes, uncapped)
20 Ollie Hull (Northampton Saints, Stamford School, uncapped)
21 Matthew Branch-Holland (Saracens, Ravens Wood, uncapped)
22 George Newman (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College, uncapped)
23 Finn Keylock (Saracens, Bishop Wand School, uncapped)
24 Cameron Ward (Bath Rugby, Cranleigh School, uncapped)
25 Fraser Rawlins (Saracens, Haileybury, 2 caps)
26 Ben Morrow (Saracens, Millfield, uncapped)
Updated U18 International Series Fixtures (all times BST)
Monday 12th August (Stellenberg High School)
12.30pm England v Ireland
2.30pm South Africa A v Georgia
Friday 16th August (Paarl Gimnasium)
12.30pm Georgia v England
2.30pm South Africa v Ireland
Tuesday 20th August (Paarl Boys High)
12.30pm South Africa v England
2.30pm Ireland v Georgia