England Men's U18 Team to face France
England men’s U18 head coach Jonathan Pendlebury has named his side to play France U18 on Saturday 18 March (KO 12:30)
Pendlebury’s first team of the year is mixed with experienced and emerging players, with 12 debutants among the matchday 24 to face Le Bleus.
Tomorrow's match pits the two undefeated teams from last year’s Six Nations Under-18s Festival in France against one another, after each won three straight games.
Henry Pollock will skipper the side from flanker and is joined in the backrow by Jack Bennett and England U18 debutant Lucas Schmid at No. 8.
Louie Trevett and Billy Sela are the props, starting hooker Kepu Tuipulotu makes his debut, and Finn Baker and Tom Burrow partner up in the second row.
Ieuan Davies and Rory Taylor are the side's halves, while Sean Kerr and Ben Redshaw form the midfield partnership.
Jack Kinder and Tom Humphreys both make their debuts starting on the wings, and Conor Byrne will wear the number 15 jersey.
Harry Clarke, Ralph McEachran, Tye Raymont, Junior Kpoku, Reuben Logan, Will Wootton, Ollie Davies, Frank McMillan and Ioan Jones are the replacements.
Admission will be free for children under 18, and the club will be asking for a donation of £5 from adults wishing to enter. The match will also be live streamed on England Rugby channels.
England’s player pathway programme is a vital development tool for future international rugby; of the 36-player squad named for the Guinness Six Nations, 32 of them played England U18.
Pendlebury said: “Well done to the twelve players who will pull on an England shirt for the first time this Saturday. We’ve selected a team with previous international experience, including many who toured South Africa last year, as well as players who we feel will wear the rose with pride and play well at this level.
“The squad has had excellent preparation and time to bond during our development camps as we built towards our 2023 season, which kickstarts against France at Molesey Road. Schools, colleges, junior and community clubs, and academies have also put in a mountain of work to help prepare their players for what will forever be a highlight of their individual rugby journeys.
“France is a strong rugby nation and our matchday 24 is relishing the opportunity to take to the pitch against them, while pushing the boundaries of their own abilities.”
England men’s U18 v France
1. Louie Trevett (Academy: Bristol Bears, School: Clifton College)
2. Kepu Tuipulotu (London Irish, Harrow School) *
3. Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)
4. Finn Baker (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School)
5. Tom Burrow (Yorkshire Academy, Heckmondwike GS)
6. Jack Bennett (Bath Rugby, Monkton Combe School)
7. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Stowe School)
8. Lucas Schmid (Harlequins, Epsom College) *
9. Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby, Millfield School) *
10. Rory Taylor (London Irish, Wellington College)
11. Jack Kinder (Midlands West, Solihull School) *
12. Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Whitgift School)
13. Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School)
14. Tom Humphreys (Harlequins, RGS Guildford) *
15. Conor Byrne (Harlequins, Trinity School)
Replacements
16. Harry Clarke (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College) *
17. Ralph McEachran (London Irish, The Bishop Wand School) *
18. Tye Raymont (Yorkshire Academy, Bishop Burton College) *
19. Junior Kpoku (Saracens, Finborough School) *
20. Reuben Logan (Midlands Central, Berkhamsted School) *
21. Will Wootton (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)
22. Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar) *
23. Frank McMillan (Harlequins, BHASVIC) *
24. Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Dean Close School)
*Debut