A 26-player travelling squad for the 2024 U18 International Series has been confirmed by England U18 Men’s head coach Jonathan Pendlebury and assistant coach Will Parkin. England U18s head to South Africa for three age-grade Test matches, as they come up against Ireland, France and the hosts South Africa in August.
Patrick Hogg of Newcastle Falcons’ academy and Bath Rugby’s James Linegar are the most experienced players involved in the squad. The 17-year-olds have four U18 caps each, including three appearances at the 2024 Under-18 Six Nations Festival where England picked up three victories against Wales, Scotland and Georgia.
The duo is joined by Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby), Tom Dye (Northampton Saints), Fraser Rawlins (Saracens) and Harlequins pair Elliot Williams and Felix Champain as the previously-capped U18 players in Pendlebury’s group.
Fly-half Linegar, who lifted the 2024 Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League title with fellow squad member Julian Nunn at Bath Rugby, was named one of England’s Players of the Match alongside Hogg in the 2024 Six Nations encounter vs. Wales.
Recent World Rugby U20 Championship victor, Lucas Friday, was part of the U18 Men’s recent Six Nations campaign in what is now a largely refreshed cohort for the summer.
With the 2024 Series fixtures also now confirmed, England U18 Men will face age-grade counterparts Ireland, France and South Africa in Cape Town and Paarl next month. Georgia and a South Africa A side are also participating in the three-round competition that takes place on 12th, 16th and 20th August.
Similar to past editions, the matches will be hosted at school venues, with Stellenberg High School in Cape Town’s northern suburbs, as well as Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys High School hosting the U18 teams on triple-header match days. SuperSport Schools will continue their coverage of the series this year and broadcast each fixture live.
“What we’re looking to give these young men is the experiences that will serve them well as rugby players and as people, many of whom are experiencing international age-grade rugby and travelling on a tour for the first time,” Jonathan Pendlebury said.
“All of us as the Men’s Pathway staff want to see them explore as players, trust their instincts and work collaboratively as teammates. That sense of togetherness starts off the pitch and is imperative as a framework to embolden these players to do their best whilst representing England.
“We have focused on Speed as one of our key principles in recent camps, and to now follow on from the U20s in the next few weeks gives us a great deal of inspiration as this new group begin their journey on the development pathway.”
England U18 Men’s 2024 International Series squad (includes current academy, school and U18 caps)
Forwards
Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, uncapped)
Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College, 3 caps)
Ben Beere (Leicester Tigers, Stamford School, uncapped)
Matthew Branch-Holland (Saracens, Ravens Wood, uncapped)
Tom Davis (Sale Sharks, St Mary’s College, Crosby, uncapped)
Tom Dye (Northampton Saints, Ipswich School, 1 cap)
Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, 4 caps)
Ollie Hull (Northampton Saints, Stamford School, uncapped)
Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy, uncapped)
George Marsh (Leicester Tigers, Gresham’s School, uncapped)
Jack Marshall (Saracens, The Campion School, uncapped)
Jack Murphy (Saracens, Colfes, uncapped)
Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby, Wellington College, uncapped)
Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, 3 caps)
Backs
Noah Caluori (Saracens, Mill Hill School, uncapped)
Felix Champain (Harlequins, Worth School, 2 caps)
Finn Keylock (Saracens, Bishop Wand School, uncapped)
James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School, 4 caps)
Ben Morrow (Saracens, Millfield, uncapped)
George Newman (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College, uncapped)
Julian Nunn (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff, uncapped)
Fraser Rawlins (Saracens, Haileybury, 2 caps)
Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, St Albans, uncapped)
Cameron Ward (Bath Rugby, Cranleigh School, uncapped)
Sam Winters (Bath Rugby, Harrow School, uncapped)
Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Clifton College, uncapped)
England U18 Men’s 2024 International Series fixtures
Monday 12th August – England vs. Ireland – 12:30 BST kick-off – Stellenberg High School
Friday 16th August – England vs. France – 10:30 BST kick-off – Paarl Gimnasium
Tuesday 20th August – South Africa vs. England – 12:30 BST kick-off – Paarl Boys’ High School