England U18 Touring Team
England Under-18 have named their squad for the two-week tour to South Africa in August. Coaches John Fletcher and Pete Walton will lead the group of 26 as they face Wales, France and South Africa across the Western Cape.
England Under-18 won their third successive FIRA/AER European Championship in April this year – beating Ireland 30-14 in the final in Poland – and Fletcher is looking to replicate those performances this summer.
Fletcher said: “we're looking forward to heading out there – it’s a significant part of our programme, and playing these three countries will be a huge challenge. Playing South Africa in their own backyard is one of the toughest things you can do in rugby, but it’s something we're looking forward to.
“Touring is huge for these players – it takes them out of their comfort zones and the proof is in the pudding. The vast majority of the Under-20s who have won back-to-back World Cups toured the southern hemisphere with the Under-18s. So it definitely stands them in good stead.”
England Under-18 Touring Squad
Forwards (14): Lewis Boyce (Prince Henry's Carnegie), Owen Hills (Queen Elizabeth Wyggeston College), James Fish (Trent College), Ollie Adams (St Paul's Catholic College), Seb Adeniran-Olule (Wellington College), Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose), Joe Batley (Hartpury College ), Kieran Treadwell (John Fisher), Joe Maksymiw (Queen Elizabeth Wyggeston College), George not (Kings School Chester), Charlie Beckett (Queen Elizabeth Wyggeston College), Lewis Ludlam (St Joseph’s College), Sam Underhill (Sir Thomas Rich’s School ), Henry Cheeseman (Whitgift)
Backs (12): Will Homer (Sherborne School), Rory Jennings (Bryanston School), Theo Brophy Clews (Abingdon School), Cameron Cowell (St Paul's College), Kai Little (Hartpury College), Harry Mallinder (Rugby School), Max Clark (Bryanston School), Rotimi Segun (Stowe School), Brett Herron (Wellington College), Joe Marchant (Peter Symonds), Ollie Thorley (Cheltenham College ), Taylor Prell (Giggleswick School),
NB Queen Elizabeth Wyggeston College, which has about 1900 students, was founded in 1978 in Leicester.