Cokanasiga Jnr starts for Mallinder’s U18s

ENGLAND U18s head coach Jim Mallinder has named his side to play Scotland at Billingham RUFC today, with Phil Cokanasiga named at inside-centre.

The younger brother of Bath and England wing Joe is one of six players who toured South Africa with the England U18s last August alongside Sam Riley, George Martin, Nahum Merigan, Tom Curtis and Tom Roebuck.

Raphael Quirke, who also played in that August series last year, is named among the replacements.

Following today’s fixture, the side will next play France at Cheshunt RFC on March 24 before April’s U18 Six Nations Festival which is being hosted by England.

Mallinder’s boys face Wales on April 13 before matches against Ireland and France.

The festival, which is participated in by all six unions, sees each nation play three fixtures over 10 days across three venues – Gillman’s Ground, Sixways and Kingsholm.

Mallinder said: “We are looking forward to taking on Scotland on a brand-new AGP which gives us the ability to play with ball in hand.

“I want the players to enjoy the occasion, which is a massive thing about rugby; they have to enjoy playing the game but also understand that this is a brilliant opportunity for them.”

“It’s great that we’re taking this fixture to the north of England and we’re looking forward to playing in front of vocal home support at Billingham.”

ENGLAND: George Worboys, Joe Browning, Louis Hillman-Copper, Phil Cokanasiga, Tom Roebuck, Tom Curtis, Jack Van Poortvliet; Harry Fry, Sam Riley, Jenson Boughton, George Martin, Archie Benson, Josh Gray, Xavier Hastings, Nahum Merigan. Replacements: John Stewart, Luke Green, Fin Baxter, Ewan Richards, Will Trenholm, Raphael Quirke, Orlando Bailey, Jude Williams