Playing into a stiff wind, a rejigged England team fell behind 19-0 at half-time but the second half was the reverse story. Straight from the restart the England pack drove their Saracens counterparts back 20 metres, and it set the tone for the remainder of the match.

England U16 A fought back to gain the draw with three tries by No 8 Sam Heygate (Guilsborough School & East Midlands), full back Ben Ransom (Tonbridge School & Kent) and fly half Ryan Mills (West Exe Technology College & Devon). Mills also kicked two conversions.

Radburn, the captain, was one of those laid low by the virus, which induced sickness and diarrhoea. A couple of the replacement had to nip away from the bench during the match, such were the ill effects.

Steve Shortland, the England U16A forwards coach, was delighted at the way the squad rallied round on and off the field.

“The whole weekend was a good bonding exercise,” said Shortland, a former England Students and Under-21 lock who played alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, Dean Ryan and Rob Andrew among others in his club days at Wasps.

“We coaches were watching a recording of last year’s game against France on Saturday night when the fire alarm went off and we had to open our cars up outside for the boys to shelter from the rain.

“The practice match was a challenge we needed. Up front Saracens were very physical and our line-out had a few problems in the wind, getting over their bigger players. But our scrum and elements of our continuity game were very successful.

“We could see stuff coming together that could be traced back to the Hartpury College camp in mid-February.

“A couple of players were out of position and we gifted Saracens one of their three tries, but we fought back incredibly well.

“And having a few players unavailable was good preparation for a testing week at Millfield when we will play Wales U16 A in the final match on the main pitch. You need a good squad to get through this tournament.”

Ends