Senior squad stunned by sacking of U18 coaches

Several England players and Rugby Football Union coaches are understood to have been shocked and upset by the sudden sacking of two coaches of the national Under-18 side.

It is thought that John Fletcher and Peter Walton, who have overseen the England Under-18 programme for a decade, were informed on Monday evening that they were surplus to requirements.

The popular pair joined the RFU in the summer of 2008 from Newcastle, where Fletcher had been succeeded by Rob Andrew as director of rugby and Walton – a 24-cap Scotland international – had been forwards coach.

Among the numerous players to have worked with them and progressed through England’s agegroup system to further honours are Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jamie George, Joe Marler, Mako and Billy Vunipola and Anthony Watson.

As recently as this season, Sale’s Cameron Redpath and Worcester’s Ollie Lawrence – who were subsequently called into senior England training camps under Eddie Jones – worked with Fletcher and Walton in the England Under-18 set-up.

Telegraph Sport understands that Dean Ryan, who arrived at the RFU as head of international player development almost two years ago, was the chief influence in the decision to let the pair go. Ryan, effectively in charge of England’s prolific age-group production line, has already made significant changes since the start of the 2016 season.

Former Saracens academy manager Don Barrell was brought in as head of regional academies last July. Also, as of this year, the England Under-16 team has been abolished in order to widen the catchment and allow greater scope for late developers to flourish.

RFU staff are already facing redundancies but this is thought to be a separate matter. Yesterday, an RFU spokeswoman said: “We are in discussions with John Fletcher and Peter Walton about their roles within the performance pathway and have no further comment until these discussions are complete.”