England Rugby Representative Rugby Teams
England Representative teams are formed of U16, U18 and U20 players who are eligible for national honours. The Academy Integrated Pathway provides players involved in representative rugby with structured development programmes from age-grade levels to senior national squads.
Competitions and festivals for each age grade offer different challenges to those in club rugby and they mirror the demands of playing at senior elite level. For information on team structure and competitions, download the Youth Structured Season 2009/10 (PDF 1MB). This will provide an overview of the framework for participants at all levels in clubs and schools to develop their involvement in the sport.
More information on the player eligibility, regulations and fixtures can also be found in the Competitions and Tournaments section of this website.
U16s
As Under 16 is the first stage in the England representative team ladder, the emphasis in the U16 year is on increasing participation at all levels (club/school/Constituent Body/region), while providing representative opportunities at divisional/national level for elite players with potential.
| England U16s Yearly Team Programme |
| Month |
No. of Days |
Match/Training |
| December |
Four days
|
Divisional Trials |
| January |
Three days |
Divisional Festival 1 |
| January
|
Three days |
Divisional Festival 2 |
| February
|
Three days
|
Training Camp
|
| February
|
Five days
|
Training Camp & Match |
| March |
Three days
|
Training Camp |
| March |
Three days
|
Training Camp & Match |
| March
|
Two days |
Training Camp & Match |
| April |
Ten days
|
England 16 – 4 Nations Tournament |
| April
|
Six days |
England 16A – International Festival |
U18s
Once the U18 Conference/RBS 6 Nations squad has been identified, an individual development and training programme is put in place for each player. Coaches of the U18 team, in consultation with the Head of Elite Development, ensure that each player has the opportunity to reach his potential. In addition the U18 squad undergoes a yearly team programme on the following basis:
| England U18s Yearly Team Programme |
| Month |
No. of Days |
Match/Training |
| August |
Four days
|
Divisional Trials |
| September |
Three days |
Divisional Festival 1 |
| October |
Three days |
Divisional Festival 2 |
| November |
Three days
|
Training Camp
|
| December |
Five days
|
Training Camp & Match |
| February |
Three days
|
Training Camp |
| February |
Three days
|
Training Camp & Match |
| March
|
Two days |
Training Camp & Match |
| March |
Ten days
|
England 16 – 4 Nations Tournament |
| April
|
Six days |
England 16A – International Festival |
| July/August
|
21 days |
Southern Hemisphere Tour |
U20s
A 32-man U20s squad is announced on September 1 of each year (a provisional squad will have been notified on July 1).
Once the squad is identified, an individual development and training programme is put in place for each player. In addition to the individual programme the U20 squad undergoes a yearly team programme on the following basis:
| England U20s Yearly Team Programme |
| Month |
No. of Days |
Match/Training |
| September |
Three days
|
Training Camp |
| December |
Five days |
Training Camp |
| January |
Five days |
Training Camp |
| February/March |
Seven x five days |
RBS 6 Nations Fixtures |
| May |
Five days
|
Training Camp & Match |
| June |
21 days
|
IRB Junior World Cup |
Sevens
The Sevens head coach, in consultation with the Head of Elite Development, identifies five core players and a wider squad from each competition squad is selected.
| England Sevens Yearly Team Programme |
| Month |
No. of Days |
Match/Training |
| October |
Three days
|
Training Camp |
| November/December |
14 days |
Two Tournaments |
| January |
Five days |
Training Camp |
| March |
Three days |
Training Camp |
| March |
Ten days
|
Sevens World Cup |
