May 8th, 2008
The Elite Rugby Department of the Rugby Football Union has today (Thursday) announced the England Under 18s Development Squad to tour Argentina this summer.
The squad of 32 will play four games against Mendoza, Tucuaman, Buenos Aires and an international test against Argentina. The dates and venues for these fixtures are still to be confirmed but the England young guns will be in Argentina from July 14th to August 6th.
The England team head into the development tour with several players who helped England to a Grand Slam of victories in the Six Nations Festival in Cork. There are also call-ups for three Under 18s AER players, whose side finished third in the Association Europeenne de Rugby Championship this season, and five England Under 16s players who picked up a win and a draw in the Four Nations Tournament in France this season.
England Under 18s Coach John Fletcher, who joins the RFU National Academy on July 1st from Guinness Premiership side Newcastle Falcons, said: “Going to Argentina is a tremendous opportunity and a fantastic development vehicle for these players. It’s going to be a tough development camp as Argentinean sides and Argentina themselves are known for being strong upfront and being passionate about their rugby.
“For me, this is my first experience of working with the Under 18s and I’m really looking forward to spending a concentrated period of time with them. I have seen all the Under 18s games this season and I have been very impressed. They are clearly a very strong squad.
“We have also called up some of the Under 18s AER and Under 16s players who have proved themselves this season. This will be the start of the process for them, and it will be an outstanding opportunity for them to learn on the next run of the ladder. Between the experienced Under 18s players and the younger ones I think we have got a very good mix in this squad.”
England U18s Development Tour Squad
**Peter Austin London Irish Worthing College
*Joe Barker Leeds Carnegie QEGS Wakefield
*David Blackwell Gloucester Rugby Hartpury
*James Currie Bath Rugby Millfield
*James Gaskell Sale Sharks Sandbach
*Jamie George Saracens Haileybury
*Jamie Gibson London Irish Marlborough College
*Alex Gray Newcastle Falcons Barnard Castle
*Tom Holmes Sale Sharks Sandbach
*Lee Imiolek Sale Sharks Sandbach
***Sam Jones London Wasps Aylesbury Grammar School
*Joe Marler Harlequins
*Rob Milligan Northampton Saints Rugby School
*Jacob Rowan Leeds Carnegie Bradford Grammar
*Mako Vunipola Bristol Rugby Millfield
*Freddie Burns Bath Rugby Bath College
*Tom Catterick Newcastle Falcons Barnard Castle
*Rory Clegg Newcastle Falcons Barnard Castle
***Joe Cobden Leicester Tigers King Edward VI Lichfield
***Sam Edgereley London Irish Wellington College
***Owen Farrell Saracens St Georges
***George Ford Leeds Carnegie Rishworth
*Andy Forsyth Leicester Tigers QEGS Wakefield
*Sam Harrison Leicester Tigers John Cleveland College
*Tom Homer London Irish Milton Abbey
*Will Hurrell Leicester Tigers Queen Elizabeth II
*Jordi Pasqualin Gloucester Rugby The Kings School
**Jimmy Stevens SWERA/Redruth Truro College
*Christian Wade London Wasps RGS High Wycombe
*Jack Wallace London Wasps RGS High Wycombe
**Marcus Watson London Irish St George’s College
*Joe Quinn St Wilfred's School Leeds Carnegie
* denotes England U18s Six Nations Festival 2008
** denotes England U18s AER 2008
*** denotes England U16s Four Nations 2008
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