A 26-player squad for the 2024 U18 International Series has been confirmed by England U18 Men’s head coach Jonathan Pendlebury and assistant coach Will Parkin.

Patrick Hogg and James Linegar are the most experienced players involved in the squad, with four U18 caps each, including three at the 2024 U18 Six Nations Festival where England picked up wins against Wales, Scotland and Georgia.

Fly-half Linegar, who won the 2024 Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League with fellow squad member Julian Nunn at Bath Rugby, was named one of England’s Players of the Match alongside Hogg in the win over Wales.

The duo are joined by Jonno Balding, Tom Dye, Fraser Rawlins and Harlequins pair Elliot Williams and Felix Champain as the previously-capped U18 players in Pendlebury’s group.

With fixtures now confirmed, England will face Ireland, France and South Africa in Cape Town and Paarl next month.

Similar to past editions, matches will be hosted at school venues, with Stellenberg High School in Cape Town, as well as Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys High School hosting games.

SuperSport Schools will continue their coverage of the series this year and broadcast each fixture live.

“What we’re looking to give these young men is the experiences that will serve them well as rugby players and as people, many of whom are experiencing international age-grade rugby and travelling on a tour for the first time,” said Pendlebury.  

“All of us as the Men’s Pathway staff want to see them explore as players, trust their instincts and work collaboratively as teammates. That sense of togetherness starts off the pitch and is imperative as a framework to embolden these players to do their best whilst representing England.

“We have focused on speed as one of our key principles in recent camps, and to now follow on from the U20s in the next few weeks gives us a great deal of inspiration as this new group begin their journey on the development pathway.”

England International Series squad

Forwards  

Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, uncapped)

Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College, 3 caps)

Ben Beere (Leicester Tigers, Stamford School, uncapped)

Matthew Branch-Holland (Saracens, Ravens Wood, uncapped)

Tom Davis (Sale Sharks, St Mary's College, Crosby, uncapped)

Tom Dye (Northampton Saints, Ipswich School, 1 cap)

Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, 4 caps)

Ollie Hull (Northampton Saints, Stamford School, uncapped)

Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy, uncapped)

George Marsh (Leicester Tigers, Gresham's School, uncapped)

Jack Marshall (Saracens, The Campion School, uncapped)

Jack Murphy (Saracens, Colfes, uncapped)

Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby, Wellington College, uncapped)

Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon's School, 3 caps)

Backs

Noah Caluori (Saracens, Mill Hill School, uncapped)

Felix Champain (Harlequins, Worth School, 2 caps)

Finn Keylock (Saracens, Bishop Wand School, uncapped)

James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School, 4 caps)

Ben Morrow (Saracens, Millfield, uncapped)

George Newman (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College, uncapped)

Julian Nunn (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff, uncapped)

Fraser Rawlins (Saracens, Haileybury, 2 caps)

Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, St Albans, uncapped)

Cameron Ward (Bath Rugby, Cranleigh School, uncapped)

Sam Winters (Bath Rugby, Harrow School, uncapped)

Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Clifton College, uncapped)

England 2024 International Series fixtures

Monday 12 August - England vs. Ireland - 12:30 BST kick-off - Stellenberg High School

Friday 16 August - England vs. France - 10:30 BST kick-off - Paarl Gimnasium

Tuesday 20 August - South Africa vs. England - 12:30 BST kick-off - Paarl Boys' High School