England U18 squad for South Africa

[Epaminondas Pules]

England Under 18s have named a 26-man squad for their three-match tour of South Africa in August.

England face South Africa Schools in their opening fixture on Friday 11 August in Cape Town before a match against Wales four days later, and finish their campaign against France on Saturday 19 August in Stellenbosch.

Experienced forwards Ted Hill, Sam Moore and Tom Willis return after they featured in last year’s tour to South Africa. Hill and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith both also received England U20 caps in this year’s Six Nations.

Led by head coach John Fletcher, along with coaches Russell Earnshaw, Mark Luffman and Peter Walton, England U18 have enjoyed an impressive season so far, most recently winning all of their games in April’s International Series in Wales.

'A fantastic opportunity'
“The tour is a fantastic opportunity for these players to play in the southern hemisphere in a challenging environment," said Fletcher.

"On the field, I want to see us improve in each game, we are in our off season and lots of the boys will not have had much rugby so it will take a little bit of time to get them back up to speed.

“We’ve chosen a strong, talented group and we will only focus on ourselves, the skills and principles that we think are important for this age group within our pathway. We’re really looking forward to spending time with the players; it’s important for us coaches to get to know them both on and off the field.”

The tour plays a pivotal role in their development through the national age grade programme with three players - Joe Cokanasiga, Ben Curry and Tom Curry - from last year’s group named in the England senior squad for the series against Argentina in June.

In addition, 11 of last year’s squad progressed to feature in the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia which saw England reach the final.

England U18 squad for 2017 tour to South Africa:

Forwards:
Josh Basham (London Irish, Wellington College)
Will Capon (Bristol Rugby, Bristol Grammar School)
Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors, Bromsgrove School)
James Dun (Bristol Rugby, Millfield School)
George Head (Harlequins, Tonbridge School)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, Wyggeston & QEI College)
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors, Worcester College)
Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby, St Peter’s High School)
Sam Moore (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)
Nick Rigby (Worcester Warriors, Warwick School)
James Scott (Worcester Warriors, Malvern College)
Kieran Verden (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)
Tom Willis (Wasps, The Henley College)

Backs:
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, Bedford School)
Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie , New College Pontefract)
Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, St Paul’s School)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, Bishop Wordsworth's School)
Will Porter (Wasps, Merchant Taylors' School)
Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)
Arron Reed (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School)
Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby, Dean Close School)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, Brighton College)
Sam Spink (Wasps, Wellington College)
Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School)

Fixtures:

Friday 11 August: England U18 v South Africa Schools - City Park Stadium, Athlone (KO time TBC)
Tuesday 14 August: England U18 v Wales U18 - Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl (KO time TBC)
Saturday 19 August: England U18 v France U18 - Paul Roos, Stellenbosch (KO time TBC)

[Tigersman]

Heyes is huge unit at TH being the sole representative for Tigers heard good things about him. (Tigers apparently keeping Hardwick for Pre-Season who is likely to play for the 1st team during it and Grahamslaw to fully train with Stanko to help with his LH conversion)

Sale 4
Worcester 4
Harlequins 3
Wasps 3
Gloucester 2
Bristol 2
Bath 2
London Irish 2
Leicester 1
Exeter 1
Yorkshire 1
Saints 1

[Peat]

Tom de Glanville anything to wosshisface?

Disappointing lack of comedy names with Josh Basham all alone here really but I think there'll be a cheap laugh the first time a commentator says Beck Cutting inside. Helps that he has a last name for a first name.

[Tigersman]

Tom de Glanville anything to wosshisface?

Disappointing lack of comedy names with Josh Basham all alone here really but I think there'll be a cheap laugh the first time a commentator says Beck Cutting inside. Helps that he has a last name for a first name.

Son

[Epaminondas Pules]

Heyes is huge unit at TH being the sole representative for Tigers heard good things about him. (Tigers apparently keeping Hardwick for Pre-Season who is likely to play for the 1st team during it and Grahamslaw to fully train with Stanko to help with his LH conversion)

Sale 4
Worcester 4
Harlequins 3
Wasps 3
Gloucester 2
Bristol 2
Bath 2
London Irish 2
Leicester 1
Exeter 1
Yorkshire 1
Saints 1

Yeah Hardwick being kept by Tigers. Apparently they want a good look at him as he's shown some serious promise.

Same can be said of the like of Ben Loader too.

[Timbo]

No Sarries players?

[Raggs]

No Sarries players?

Eddie has asked for them to be excused so they can start for England in the ais.

[Epaminondas Pules]

No Sarries players?

Obatoyinbo and Refell have been kept back by Sarries.

[fivepointer]

Oli Morris?

This trip seems to be a fixture now. 3 tough games against good opponents.

From what i've seen of this age group there are some very strong forwards, notably Moore, Willis, Hill and Capon.

[Mellsblue]

No Fraser Strachan?!?!?

[jimKRFC]

Has Cameron Redpath learnt to pass yet? Used to watch him play rugby with my nephew, his dad used to get abuse about teaching his lad to pass.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Has Cameron Redpath learnt to pass yet? Used to watch him play rugby with my nephew, his dad used to get abuse about teaching his lad to pass.

Indeed he has. Looks a very good player in the making. Hope we can keep hold of him