England have named an U19 Men’s side to face Wales at 3pm on Friday at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrand Mynach.
Mark Mapletoft selects former Gordon’s School pupil Elliot Williams as captain, the Harlequins man who was so integral to the U18 side last year. He was a part of last year’s U19 side as well, alongside George Marsh, James Pater, Asa Stewart-Harris, and current Rugby School pupil Oscar Talbot, who are all named in the squad of 24.
Talbot is one of three current schoolboys in the starting side, with Bromsgrove’s Krystof Wood on the right wing, and the St Joseph’s Festival player of the tournament Charlie Bray of Kirkham Grammar School at 6.
On the bench, two further schoolboys, Durham full back AJ Edwards, and Finborough winger Charlie Tamani, the Merchiston Festival player of the tournament.
Speaking ahead of the game, Mapletoft said: “This fixture is an important early touchpoint in our pathway campaign, with 13 U20 Elite Player Squad members involved.”
“Fixtures like this help to bridge the gap between the U18 and U20 pathway teams and gives the opportunity for our squad members to rub shoulders with a wider pool of players from the England pathway system. It will also give our coaches from the U18 and U20 setups the chance to work together, share ideas and enhance the progression of our players. Any team that travels to Wales expects a tough test, and this will be no different. We look forward to picking up some important learnings from the camp as a whole.”
England U19 Men’s XV vs Wales (Club & School, if applicable, in brackets)
15 James Pater (Northampton Saints)
14 Krystof Wood (Gloucester, Bromsgrove School)
13 Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears)
12 Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Charlie Lawson (Leeds Beckett University)
10 Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School)
9 Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens)
1 Alan Poku (Saracens)
2 Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester)
3 Harry Wright (Gloucester)
4 Elliot Williams (Harlequins, captain)
5 Rory McKnight (Bath)
6 Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar)
7 Tate Williams (Harlequins)
8 George Marsh (Leicester Tigers)
Replacements:
16 Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins)
17 Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks)
18 Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers)
19 Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Gloucester)
20 Matthew Bowler (Bristol Bears)
21 Isaac Mears (Bath Rugby)
22 Henry Lumley (Northampton Saints)
23 Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School)
24 Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Red Bulls, Durham School)
