England have named their side for their opening game of the Men’s U18 Six Nations Festival, they play Ireland in a 3.15pm kick off at the Stade Louis Darragon in Vichy, France, this Friday.
Bath co-captain Declan Treacey will captain the side, it is the Beechen Cliff star’s fourth time captaining England at U18 level. Alongside him in the centres is Exeter College’s Charlie Bosanko, the Exeter Chief starts at outside centre. Gloucester’s Oli Hewitt of Bromsgrove is at full back, with Bristol Bears’ Taunton School star Caspar Reeves on the right wing and the experienced Northampton Saint, Charlie Tamani, on the left, the Finborough man will win his eighth cap. Sedbergh’s Will Bayston of Sale Sharks is at scrum half, with Saracens and Mill Hill skipper Zac Jones at fly half.
Up front, the Northampton Saints young star and Continental Tyres School Cup winner with Northampton School for Boys, Jack Lewis, is on the openside. His school and club mate Aiden Reid is at loosehead. Alongside Reid in the front row, Saracens’ Tiane Elone of Mill Hill at hooker and Yorkshire Academy’s Ben Smith of Wath Academy at tigthead. At lock, Leicester Tigers’ Fin Charles of Denstone College and Exeter College’s Jeremy Keys of Exeter Chiefs, while alongside Lewis in the back row is Norwich’s Kwame Bekoe, the Leicester Tiger is on the blindside, and Bath’s Ben Allen, of Wellington College, at 8.
The remainder of the 26-man squad is on the bench, with Harleqins and Trinity lock / back row, Kaiden Watson, in line for his debut.
Speaking ahead of the game, Head Coach Jonathan Pendlebury said: “We’re looking forward to opening our tournament this Friday against Ireland. It’s exactly the kind of tight, physical battle that will challenge this group and accelerate their growth.”
“At this stage of the pathway, our focus is firmly on development and getting better from match to match. Friday’s test, especially with a demanding contest across all areas of the game, will be invaluable for that. We want to see real relentlessness in our work-rate to our mindset, and this is a brilliant opportunity for the players to take another step forward together on their journey as a squad and as young rugby players.”
England U18 XV vs Ireland
15 Oli Hewitt (Gloucester, Bromsgrove)
14 Caspar Reeves (Bristol Bears, Taunton)
13 Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
12 Declan Treacey (Bath, Beechen Cliff, captain)
11 Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough)
10 Zac Jones (Saracens, Mill Hill)
9 Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh)
1 Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, Northampton SfB)
2 Tiane Elone (Saracens, Mill Hill)
3 Ben Smith (Yorkshire Academy, Wath Academy)
4 Fin Charles (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College)
5 Jeremy Keys (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
6 Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich)
7 Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Northampton SfB)
8 Ben Allen (Bath, Wellington College)
Replacements:
16 Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College)
17 Hendro Hattingh (Sale Sharks, Scarisbrick Hall)
18 Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Loughborough College)
19 Kaiden Watson (Harlequins, Trinity)
20 Harry Westlake (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
21 Henry Johnson (Leicester Tigers, Oakham)
22 Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham)
23 Max Hooper (Bath, Beechen Cliff)
24 Will Moore (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)
25 Rio Bennett (Saracens, Brighton College)
26 Archie Guyver (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
England Men’s U18 Six Nations Fixtures (all games at Stade Municipal Louis Darragon, Vichy)
Matchday 1 v Ireland – Friday 3rd April, 15.15 KO
Matchday 2 v Georgia – Tuesday 7th April, 12.15 KO
Matchday 3 v Italy – Saturday 11th April, 15.15 KO
