England lads get ready for tour of S Africa
ENGLAND Under 18s have named a 26-man squad for their three-match tour of South Africa in August.
England face South Africa Schools in their opening fixture on Friday August 11 in Cape Town before a match against Wales four days later. The side then finish their campaign against France on Saturday August 19 in Stellenbosch.
England will be boosted by the experience of forwards Ted Hill, Sam Moore and Tom Willis – all three featured in last year’s tour to South Africa. Hill and Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith both also received England U20 caps in this year’s Six Nations.
Coached by John Fletcher, Russell Earnshaw, Mark Luffman and Peter Walton, England U18 have had an impressive season so far, winning all of their games in April’s International Series in Wales.
England U18 head coach John Fletcher said: “The tour is a fantastic opportunity for these players to play in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Three players (Joe Cokanasiga, Ben Curry and Tom Curry) from last year’s group were named in the England senior squad for the Argentina tour in June. ENGLAND U18 SQUAD Forwards: Josh Basham (London Irish, Wellington); Will Capon (Bristol Rugby, Bristol Grammar); Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College); Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors, Bromsgrove); James Dun (Bristol Rugby, Millfield); George Head (Harlequins, Tonbridge); Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, Wyggeston & QEI College); Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors, Worcester College) Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby, St Peter’s High School); Sam Moore (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh); Nick Rigby (Worcester Warriors, Warwick School); James Scott (Worcester Warriors, Malvern College); Kieran Verden (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School); Tom Willis (Wasps, The Henley College) Backs: Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, Bedford School) Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie, New College Pontefract); Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School); Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, St Paul’sl) Cadan Murley (Harlequins, Bishop Wordsworth’s); Will Porter (Wasps, Merchant Taylors’); Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh); Arron Reed (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar); Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby, Dean Close School); Marcus Smith (Harlequins, Brighton College); Sam Spink (Wasps, Wellington); Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar)