The camp, taking place from Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 October, is the first wider meeting of the pathway side this season and will take place at Bisham Abbey.

Core pathway staff have coordinated a three-day programme embedding the foundations of England’s age-grade principles of exploration, adaptation and levelling up with on-field activities in units and in-game scenarios.  

Taking charge of his first full camp since officially joining the RFU, England U18 Men’s assistant coach Will Parkin set the scene for this week’s meeting in Bisham. 

“This is the first camp of the season for the boys since returning from the summer series in South Africa. We spoke in the summer about getting better and better and we are looking to continue that focus heading into this weekend,” he stated. 

“The players have been away over the last two months, finishing the summer with their academies in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Premiership Rugby Academy League and then starting the season playing for their clubs, schools and colleges. Jon [Pendlebury] and I would like to thank their coaches and teachers for their commitment to giving these boys valuable minutes on the pitch. 

“It sees us bringing 40 boys together, of which 14 are new into the pathway off the back of their performances for their respective teams. This is an exciting opportunity for us to see them in a new environment and for the players to have the opportunity to test themselves and develop their ability at a higher level. 

“These next few days will see us continue to focus on our principles of SAS (Speed, Attachment, Space) whilst putting the boys under pressure to develop their fundamental skills, so that they go back to their clubs as ever-improving players. 

“Developing players for England Rugby is something that I am incredibly passionate about. I’m excited about getting the boys together this week for us to continue the work from the summer and to see how much we can enhance our game.” 

Over a dozen fresh faces to England Rugby pathway activity are complemented with 21 previously-capped U18 players this weekend, 20 of those being tourists to South Africa this past summer.