February 14th, 2008
The England Under 18s squad to compete in this season’s Six Nations Festival has today (Wednesday) been announced.
The 26-man squad has been selected from the Rugby Football Union’s Regional Academy system and includes three players who competed in the Six Nations Festival in Glasgow a year ago.
The England Under 18s squad will be coached by Alex Sanderson (Coach) and Geoff Richards (Assistant Coach).
Sanderson is a former England Under 18s player himself and has in fact played for every England representative team. He started his coaching career at Saracens before joining up with the Queensland Reds in 2006 as a forwards coach. He then joined the RFU in 2007 as a National Academy Coach.
Richards, a former Australian international, was previously Head Coach for the England Women’s team from 2000 to 2007 and coached the side to win two back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams and reach two Rugby World Cup finals.
The England Under 18s Six Nations Festival campaign gets underway with a first test against Wales on March 2nd at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium. They will then travel to Cork for the Six Nations Festival in March to play against Italy, France and Scotland.
Coach Sanderson said: “I am delighted to have been able to select this squad. All these players have proved they deserve their chance to represent their country at Under 18s level. There is no easy route into this squad so I am confident that we have a very talented group of players who can compete in a tough season ahead of us.
“All of these lads have been at the top of their game at schools level, but now they have to make the step up and prove that they are capable of playing international rugby, and as a former Under 18s players myself, I know what a challenge and honour that is.
“So far we have had four trial games and we have won each one and scored an average of four tries a game, so I think we are in a strong position ahead of our first game against Wales and our Six Nations Festival campaign in Cork.”
England Under 18s Squad
Joe Barker QEGS Wakefield Leeds Carnegie
David Blackwell Hartpury College Gloucester Rugby
*&**James Currie Millfield Bath Rugby
James Gaskell Sandbach Sale Sharks
Jamie George Haileybury Saracens
Jamie Gibson Marlborough College London Irish
**Alex Gray Barnard Castle Newcastle Falcons
Tom Holmes Sandbach Sale Sharks
Lee Imiolek Sandbach Sale Sharks
*&** Joe Marler Richmond College Harlequins
Rob Milligan Rugby School Northampton Saints
*&**Jacob Rowan Bradford GS Leeds Carnegie
**Joe Trayfoot Epsom College Harlequins
Mako Vunipola Millfield Bristol Rugby
Freddie Burns Bath College Bath Rugby
**Tom Casson Sedbergh Sale Sharks
Tom Catterick Barnard Castle Newcastle Falcons
**Rory Clegg Barnard Castle Newcastle Falcons
Andrew Forsyth QEGS Wakefield Leicester Tigers
Sam Harrison John Cleveland College Leicester Tigers
Tom Homer Milton Abbey London Irish
Will Hurrell Wyggeston & QE1 Coll Leicester Tigers
Jordi Pasqualin The King’s School Gloucs Gloucester Rugby
Sam Smith Cranleigh Harlequins
Christian Wade RGS High Wycombe LondonWasps
**Jack Wallace RGS High Wycombe London Wasps
* denotes England Under 18s Six Nations Festival squad member in 2006/2007
** denotes England Under 18s squad member who toured Australia in Under 18s summer development tour
England Under 18s Six Nations Festival Fixtures
England Under 18s v Wales, March 2nd, Worcester Warriors Sixways Stadium, KO 3pm
England Under 18s v Italy, March 26th, Temple Hill Cork, KO 5pm
England Under 18s v France, March 29th, Highfield RFC Cork, KO 230pm,
England Under 18s v Scotland, April 1st, Musgrave Park Cork, KO 230pm
Tickets for the England Under 18s v Wales match at the Sixways Stadium are priced at £10 for adults (£12 on the day) and £5 for juniors (£6 on the day). Limited on-site parking will also be available for £5 per car and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are available from both the Ticket Office and on-line at www.wrfc.co.uk. Hospitality packages will also be available for the international. For more information call the Sales department on 01905 459354.
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