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.