England Pathway Camps

[Epaminondas Pules]

Following the tight five camp, there is now a dual camp for tight 5 again and also a specialist backs camp.

The dual camp will focus on the development of tight-five forwards whilst offering specialised training for backs.

U18 Men assistant coach Will Parkin, joined by consultant coach Alan Kingsley and former England, Kenya and USA Men’s Sevens coach Mike Friday, will guide 29 of the most promising U18 backs in the country with position-specific preparation across half-backs, centres and back three players.

The weekend’s schedule also offers the opportunity for specific Individual Development Plan (IDP) focus from pathway coaches with further education around psychology and nutrition from James Mackenzie and Andy Kasper, respectively.

A coach development workshop involving 15 Premiership Rugby academy coaches alongside the men’s pathway staff will also be hosted at the centre this Saturday.

Pendlebury’s U18 Men return to Bisham for two development camps in the final weekends of October and November, respectively.

Andy Titterrell said: “Last year’s camp proved highly beneficial and the successes for many players were evident in their individual progression and further minutes awarded on the pitch.

“Whilst that resulted in silverware for some, what we always set out to do is to create an environment where players are allowed to explore their capabilities and test the boundaries of their game. This year will be no different, and the prospects we have coming through are incredibly promising to say the least.

“It’s a valuable opportunity for myself and the U20 coaches to continue our identification of the next players to break through into the pathway and to bring their IDPs to life in a testing camp environment.”

Will Parkin said: “We always have development at the forefront of our minds for these camps and bringing the best players together in the country for their age, will certainly test their positional skills under a different pressure to what some of them have been under before.

“The main purpose of coming to Bisham this week, which is slightly different to our usual camps, is to ensure the fundamentals of their positional skills are broken down and there is a real focus on individual skills rather than the team preparing for a game. As always, we want players to come in and make good mistakes, so they leave the camp as better players than when they arrived.

“During our tour to South Africa, ‘Getting Better and Better and Better’ was about seizing an opportunity for players to take ownership of their development as well as the team. We similarly encourage this new group to take as much from this camp on and off the pitch, back to their schools, clubs and academies.”

England Men’s Pathway 2024 front-five camp squad (includes academy and school)

Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints, Sedbergh School)

Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School)

Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College)

Sam Bland (Yorkshire Academy, Bishop Burton College)

Tom Davis (Sale Sharks, St Mary’s College, Crosby)

Mathis Dehauteur (Saracens, Oaklands College)

Marlon Farouk-Roy (Saracens, Oaklands College)

Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury)

Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins, Bishop Wand School)

Kieran Hill (Bristol Bears, Richard Huish 6th Form College)

Dylan Hodkinson (Sale Sharks, Wirral Grammar School)

Ollie Hull (Northampton Saints, Stamford School)

Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School)

George Leyland (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)

Tubuna Maka (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)

Rory McKnight (Bath Rugby, Wellington College)

Bronson Mellowes (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)

Alan Poku (Saracens, Bishop Wand School)

Riley Raikes (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)

Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)

Oliver Spence (Yorkshire Academy, Grammar School at Leeds)

Ethan Surrey (Bristol Bears, City of Oxford College)

Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby, Wellington College)

Sonny Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)

Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School)

England Men’s Pathway 2024 specialist backs camp squad (includes academy and school)

Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School)

Noah Caluori (Saracens, Mill Hill School)

Felix Champain (Harlequins, Worth School)

George Dufty (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School)

Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School)

Lochie Glackin (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College)

Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School)

Ollie Harris (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)

Charlie Heard (Saracens, Berkhamsted)

Tom Jacques (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)

Ryan Jones (Saracens, Mill Hill School)

Finn Keylock (Saracens, Bishop Wand School)

Bruno Lamb (Bristol Bears, SGS College)

James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School)

Henry Lumley (Northampton Saints, Finborough School)

Nick Lynagh (Harlequins, Hampton Boys)

Isaac Mears (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)

George Newman (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)

Theo Povey (Harlequins, Gordon’s School)

Aidan Pugh (Bath Rugby, Piggott School)

Evan Russell (Bristol Bears, SGS College)

Tristan Saunders (Harlequins, Dulwich)

Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)

Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, St Albans)

Joe Taylor (Harlequins, Cranleigh School)

James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School)

Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)

Sam Winters (Bath Rugby, Harrow School)

Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)

[Epaminondas Pules]

Genuinely superb to see the progression here and lots of very talented lads getting another level of engagement across the pathway coaches at 18s and 20s alongside bringing the academy coaches into the fold. Really pleasing to see!

Some proper talent in here, a few I’ve mentioned before and lots of new names coming in as you’d expect with a new year group entering the fray.

[fivepointer]

This all looks very positive.

I recognise a few names from the 18/20s.

[Puja]

I wasn't aware there was a third Lynagh. We have to get him capped for England, just so each sibling represents a different country.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

I wasn't aware there was a third Lynagh. We have to get him capped for England, just so each sibling represents a different country.

Puja

Aye. He’s predominantly a fullback. Four years Tom’s junior. One for each passport!

[Epaminondas Pules]

By position*


Loosehead:
Bronson Mellowes (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)
Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)
Oliver Spence (Yorkshire Academy, Grammar School at Leeds)

Hooker:
Tom Davis (Sale Sharks, St Mary’s College, Crosby)
George Leyland (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)
Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby, Wellington College)

Tighthead:
Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints, Sedbergh School)
Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School)
Sam Bland (Yorkshire Academy, Bishop Burton College)
Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins, Bishop Wand School)
Ollie Hull (Northampton Saints, Stamford School) (convert from Backrow)
Tubuna Maka (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)
Alan Poku (Saracens, Bishop Wand School)
Riley Raikes (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)
Sonny Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)

Lock:
Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College)
Mathis Dehauteur (Saracens, Oaklands College)
Marlon Farouk-Roy (Saracens, Oaklands College)
Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury)
Kieran Hill (Bristol Bears, Richard Huish 6th Form College)
Dylan Hodkinson (Sale Sharks, Wirral Grammar School)<cough> Welsh</cough>
Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School)
Rory McKnight (Bath Rugby, Wellington College)
Ethan Surrey (Bristol Bears, City of Oxford College)
Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School)

England Men’s Pathway 2024 specialist backs camp squad (includes academy and school)

Scrum Half:
Isaac Mears (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)
George Newman (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)
Aidan Pugh (Bath Rugby, Piggott School)
Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, St Albans)

Fly Half:
Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School)
Charlie Heard (Saracens, Berkhamsted)
Finn Keylock (Saracens, Bishop Wand School)
James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School)
Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)

Centre:
Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School)
Felix Champain (Harlequins, Worth School)
George Dufty (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School)
Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School)
Lochie Glackin (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College)
Ollie Harris (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)
Bruno Lamb (Bristol Bears, SGS College)
Henry Lumley (Northampton Saints, Finborough School)
Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)

Back Three:
Noah Caluori (Saracens, Mill Hill School)
Tom Jacques (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)
Ryan Jones (Saracens, Mill Hill School)
Nick Lynagh (Harlequins, Hampton Boys)
Theo Povey (Harlequins, Gordon’s School)
Evan Russell (Bristol Bears, SGS College)
Tristan Saunders (Harlequins, Dulwich)
Joe Taylor (Harlequins, Cranleigh School)
James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School)
Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
Sam Winters (Bath Rugby, Harrow School)


* - positions are quite interchangeable at this level. Backs more than forwards usually

[Stom]

Would be quite funny, in a way, if Nick Lynagh ended up playing for England, then the brothers could be playing for 3 different national teams...

Also, is Sonny as massive as his dad? Any other famous offspring in that list?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Would be quite funny, in a way, if Nick Lynagh ended up playing for England, then the brothers could be playing for 3 different national teams...

Also, is Sonny as massive as his dad? Any other famous offspring in that list?

Luckily he’s about as heavy as one of his dad’s legs

[Puja]

Would be quite funny, in a way, if Nick Lynagh ended up playing for England, then the brothers could be playing for 3 different national teams...

Also, is Sonny as massive as his dad? Any other famous offspring in that list?

I thought you were referencing Sonny Goode there for a minute and thought it was a touch impolite! Turns out he's no relation to Andy anyway. Anyone know if Jonno Balding is a relation to Adam?

Puja

[Stom]

Would be quite funny, in a way, if Nick Lynagh ended up playing for England, then the brothers could be playing for 3 different national teams...

Also, is Sonny as massive as his dad? Any other famous offspring in that list?

I thought you were referencing Sonny Goode there for a minute and thought it was a touch impolite! Turns out he's no relation to Andy anyway. Anyone know if Jonno Balding is a relation to Adam?

Puja

Also funny there's two Sonnys in there...

And with all the recognisable names, it's as if we could turn back time.

[Puja]

Would be quite funny, in a way, if Nick Lynagh ended up playing for England, then the brothers could be playing for 3 different national teams...

Also, is Sonny as massive as his dad? Any other famous offspring in that list?

I thought you were referencing Sonny Goode there for a minute and thought it was a touch impolite! Turns out he's no relation to Andy anyway. Anyone know if Jonno Balding is a relation to Adam?

Puja

Also funny there's two Sonnys in there...

And with all the recognisable names, it's as if we could turn back time.

Yeah, since when did Sonny become an actual name?!

There's a few false matches in there though. Hull, Balding, Goode, Townsend - none of them to do with the rugby players of previous generations from a quick google.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

could turn back time.

Pretty sure that was Cher without Sonny

[Scrumhead]

Would be quite funny, in a way, if Nick Lynagh ended up playing for England, then the brothers could be playing for 3 different national teams...

Also, is Sonny as massive as his dad? Any other famous offspring in that list?

I thought you were referencing Sonny Goode there for a minute and thought it was a touch impolite! Turns out he's no relation to Andy anyway. Anyone know if Jonno Balding is a relation to Adam?

Puja

Or Claire?

[Puja]

Interesting article in the Telegraph about the age group camps: https://archive.ph/zZXXt

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Good read, thank you

I find this to be both shocking, and frankly, unsurprising

“We had a good chat this morning to the scrum-halves about what they were working on… and none of them said their pass,” Parkin adds. “Actually, that’s their ticket to play. They were saying things like their running game. For me, their pass has got to be the number one thing all the time.
“It was: ‘Well lads, you might be good at those things, but if you’re not good at kicking and passing, you won’t get on the pitch to show that’. We run these camps, to support them on what’s to come.”

The backrowers must be feeling a tad left out now. Presumably this will be looked at next time.

Do we have a current list of who was there?

ETA: Thanks, Bristol:
England Men’s Pathway 2024 front-five camp squad (includes academy and school)

Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints, Sedbergh School)
Diamond Ayiehfor (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School)
Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College)
Sam Bland (Yorkshire Academy, Bishop Burton College)
Tom Davis (Sale Sharks, St Mary’s College, Crosby)
Mathis Dehauteur (Saracens, Oaklands College)
Marlon Farouk-Roy (Saracens, Oaklands College)
Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury)
Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins, Bishop Wand School)
Kieran Hill (Bristol Bears, Richard Huish 6th Form College)
Dylan Hodkinson (Sale Sharks, Wirral Grammar School)
Ollie Hull (Northampton Saints, Stamford School)
Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School)
George Leyland (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)
Tubuna Maka (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)
Rory McKnight (Bath Rugby, Wellington College)
Bronson Mellowes (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)
Alan Poku (Saracens, Bishop Wand School)
Riley Raikes (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)
Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)
Oliver Spence (Yorkshire Academy, Grammar School at Leeds)
Ethan Surrey (Bristol Bears, City of Oxford College)
Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby, Wellington College)
Sonny Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)
Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School)


England Men’s Pathway 2024 specialist backs camp squad (includes academy and school)

Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School)
Noah Caluori (Saracens, Mill Hill School)
Felix Champain (Harlequins, Worth School)
George Dufty (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School)
Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School)
Lochie Glackin (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College)
Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School)
Ollie Harris (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)
Charlie Heard (Saracens, Berkhamsted)
Tom Jacques (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)
Ryan Jones (Saracens, Mill Hill School)
Finn Keylock (Saracens, Bishop Wand School)
Bruno Lamb (Bristol Bears, SGS College)
James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School)
Henry Lumley (Northampton Saints, Finborough School)
Nick Lynagh (Harlequins, Hampton Boys)
Isaac Mears (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)
George Newman (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)
Theo Povey (Harlequins, Gordon’s School)
Aidan Pugh (Bath Rugby, Piggott School)
Evan Russell (Bristol Bears, SGS College)
Tristan Saunders (Harlequins, Dulwich)
Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys)
Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, St Albans)
Joe Taylor (Harlequins, Cranleigh School)
James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School)
Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
Sam Winters (Bath Rugby, Harrow School)
Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)

[Mellsblue]

Shouldn’t this all be in the England Pathway thread?

[Which Tyler]

Shouldn’t this all be in the England Pathway thread?

Blame the mod

[Mellsblue]

Shouldn’t this all be in the England Pathway thread?

Blame the mod

Always do.

[Puja]

What do you mean? It's always been in the England Pathway thread!

Puja

[Puja]

I find this to be both shocking, and frankly, unsurprising

“We had a good chat this morning to the scrum-halves about what they were working on… and none of them said their pass,” Parkin adds. “Actually, that’s their ticket to play. They were saying things like their running game. For me, their pass has got to be the number one thing all the time.
“It was: ‘Well lads, you might be good at those things, but if you’re not good at kicking and passing, you won’t get on the pitch to show that’. We run these camps, to support them on what’s to come.”

Also, that stood out to me too. It's a culture thing as much as anything else - there's been years and years of England 9s being picked on their USP in a secondary skill (and I include kicking in that) while players who are only quality passers aren't considered.

I'm basically still annoyed that Dawson was England's first choice and is lauded and remembered for his running game, while the much higher quality Bracken was relegated to the 20 shirt.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

I'm basically still annoyed that Dawson was England's first choice and is lauded and remembered for his running game, while the much higher quality Bracken was relegated to the 20 shirt.

[Banquo]

I find this to be both shocking, and frankly, unsurprising

“We had a good chat this morning to the scrum-halves about what they were working on… and none of them said their pass,” Parkin adds. “Actually, that’s their ticket to play. They were saying things like their running game. For me, their pass has got to be the number one thing all the time.
“It was: ‘Well lads, you might be good at those things, but if you’re not good at kicking and passing, you won’t get on the pitch to show that’. We run these camps, to support them on what’s to come.”

Also, that stood out to me too. It's a culture thing as much as anything else - there's been years and years of England 9s being picked on their USP in a secondary skill (and I include kicking in that) while players who are only quality passers aren't considered.

I'm basically still annoyed that Dawson was England's first choice and is lauded and remembered for his running game, while the much higher quality Bracken was relegated to the 20 shirt.

Puja

IIRC Bracken was hampered by back injury from about 98 just after Dawson emerged. I agree that when fully fit, he was a better all round 9- Dawson's running was excellent tbf, and made Johnny's DG easier

[Puja]

I find this to be both shocking, and frankly, unsurprising

Also, that stood out to me too. It's a culture thing as much as anything else - there's been years and years of England 9s being picked on their USP in a secondary skill (and I include kicking in that) while players who are only quality passers aren't considered.

I'm basically still annoyed that Dawson was England's first choice and is lauded and remembered for his running game, while the much higher quality Bracken was relegated to the 20 shirt.

Puja

IIRC Bracken was hampered by back injury from about 98 just after Dawson emerged. I agree that when fully fit, he was a better all round 9- Dawson's running was excellent tbf, and made Johnny's DG easier

An argument could be made that, had he not thrown a wild pass from the lineout that made Wilkinson literally have to jump to catch it, we'd've made that ground without the need for his sniping.

But yes, he was a very good 9 of his type, and I suppose he had a modicum of success in his career.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

I've been wondering if one of Bracken's kids is the best hope of a 9 with a decent pass since their dad.

[Banquo]

I've been wondering if one of Bracken's kids is the best hope of a 9 with a decent pass since their dad.

Charlie is pretty good tbf. The others are outside back iirc