U18 Summer Series

[Epaminondas Pules]

Just to start it's own thread, know it's already within the U20 thread.

Forwards:
Prop:
Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College, uncapped)
Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, uncapped)
Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 1 cap)
Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks, Grammar School at Leeds, 4 caps)
Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College, uncapped)

Hooker:
Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School, uncapped)

Lock:
Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, uncapped)
Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School, uncapped)
Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School, 4 caps)

Backrow:
Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, 2 caps)
AJ Henry (Saracens, Mill Hill, uncapped)
Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, Kings Worcester, uncapped)
Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar, uncapped)
Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 2 caps)

Backs:

Scrum Half:
Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, uncapped)
James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, 3 caps)

Fly Half:
Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 3 caps)
Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, 4 caps)

Centre:
Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School, uncapped)
Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College, uncapped)
Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, uncapped)
Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, 4 caps)

Back three:
Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School, 4 caps)
Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, 1 cap)
Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School, 4 caps)
Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, uncapped)


As always a number of them are multi-positional players. Lots of lads to watch out for. A few highlighted.

Some very good young forwards. I really like Ogbonnaya, whilst his team mate Ollie Spencer is highly rated.

Laidlaw has stood out playing up previously. I like Bekoe who has really improved at Norwich this season.

Ikeh and lewis would be my picks in the backrow.

Talbot is arguably the standout fly half, though Shields is also decent. Treacey the pick of the centres to date and frankly the back three are all very good prospects. I think Edwards is mint! But they're all good.

[FKAS]

Been a while since Tigers had a star flyhalf at age grade level. A back three player of note also helps.

Any shock omissions?

Who's likely to help cover hooker?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Been a while since Tigers had a star flyhalf at age grade level. A back three player of note also helps.

Any shock omissions?

Who's likely to help cover hooker?

I can't see anyone obviously missing.

A couple of the props can also play hooker. My guess would be Wheeler

[FKAS]

Been a while since Tigers had a star flyhalf at age grade level. A back three player of note also helps.

Any shock omissions?

Who's likely to help cover hooker?

I can't see anyone obviously missing.

A couple of the props can also play hooker. My guess would be Wheeler

Ta, if you're going to play hooker with the last name Wheeler you'd better be good.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Been a while since Tigers had a star flyhalf at age grade level. A back three player of note also helps.

Any shock omissions?

Who's likely to help cover hooker?

I can't see anyone obviously missing.

A couple of the props can also play hooker. My guess would be Wheeler

Ta, if you're going to play hooker with the last name Wheeler you'd better be good.

[Epaminondas Pules]

England U18 Men’s squad to face Georgia (Academy & U18 caps)
15 Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
14 Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, 4 caps)
13 Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
12 Declan Treacey (c) (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
11 Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
10 Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
9 James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
1 Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks, 4 caps)
2 Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
3 Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
4 Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, 4 caps)
5 Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
6 Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
7 Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
8 Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, uncapped)

Replacements
16 Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
17 Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
18 Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
19 Freddie Jones (Saracens, uncapped)
20 Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
21 AJ Henry (Saracens, uncapped)
22 Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
23 Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, 4 cap)
24 Krystof Wood (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
25 Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
26 Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)

[Epaminondas Pules]

Angus Savage's 5 to watch for England:

Selected just five from this outstanding group of 26 players is no easy task, all have starred either for school, club, academy, or all three in the last few years and all show incredible promise.

It is hard to ignore the five-strong Northampton Saints cohort, 2025 Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League champions, and the three-strong Northampton School for Boys contingent within that.

However there are another 21 brilliant players as well, 8 of them capped and bringing real experience off the back to the U18 Six Nations Festival to this U18 International Series.

Junior Denny – Wing (Gloucester and Bloxham, 4 caps)

Junior Denny and Charlie Tamani were a devastating duo on the wing through the Six Nations for England. Denny scored against Spain and Scotland and the Bloxham schoolboy is looking like such a well rounded winger. Every one of his 4 caps had been in the starting side, something that highlights his quality. Rapid and smart, a deadly combination, Gloucester have a player with real promise on their hands.

Jack Lewis – Back Row (Northampton Saints and Northampton School for Boys, 2 Caps)

The only forward in our five to watch, though the likes of Henry Laidlow, Oliver Spencer, Jordan Ikeh, and Aiden Reid, among other, can count themselves unlucky. Lewis was a key figure for Northampton Saints in their run to the U18 Academy League title, and his two caps have both been from the start at 7. The Northampton School for Boys flanker is all-action, and you can be sure that if he fires, England will fire. Given England probably face the three most physical challenges that there are, Georgia, France, and, especially, South Africa, Lewis’ importance cannot be overstated. Wonderful player.

Hugh Shields – Fly Half (Northampton Saints and Northampton School for Boys, 3 Caps)

As a lower 6th, Hugh Shields ran the show for Northampton Saints from fly half a remarkable feat. A magician on the fields as he has shown over and over against for both Saints and his school, Northampton School for Boys. Largely played second fiddle to Oscar Talbot through the Six Nations, and their battle for the 10 shirt in South Africa is going to be mighty. England are in an incredible position to have both players at their disposal. Shields is one to watch, no doubt. As an aside, watch out for him in tandem with his younger brother, another superstar, for Northampton School for Boys this year!

Oscar Talbot – Fly Half (Leicester Tigers and Rugby School, 4 Caps)

Talbot feels as though he has been around for years, having broken into the Rugby School XV during their bicentenary season in 2023/24. Talbot has been the man in possession of the 10 shirt for England, starting against Scotland and France in the Six Nations. His battle with Shields for that jersey feels like Fin Smith and Marucs Smith with England, or indeed George Ford and Owen Farrell, or indeed all four now! Made all the more exciting for the Tigers/Saints rivalry too. A real steady hand at 10 and such a promising player.

Declan Treacey – Centre (Bath and Beechen Cliff, 4 Caps)

Bath co-captain last year en route to the U18 Academy League final – as a lower 6th. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about Declan Treacey, he is a player of immense quality and incredible character. A key player for England in the U18 Six Nations, scoring against Spain and setting up a crucial try in the epic comeback against France. Will have got the lowdown from elder brother Connor about this tour, he came here two years ago and captained the side in one of the games. Do not be shocked if Declan receives a similar honour at some stage.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I'd add Kwame Bekoe, who could be a sensational talent. The rate with which he's improved has been staggering. He could really be a standout in his senior year. Mixes both athleticism and size. He is quite a unit!

Jordan Ikeh of Sale too has a lot to like about him. He's an unusual one who moved from prop to backrow (usually it's the other way around). Needless to say he is a unit also, but he's got some good skills about him. Don't expect too much subtlety, though he does have it in his game.

Quite a few of you will have heard of Charlie Tamani, who is an utter jack in the box / ball of power on the wing. But I'd keen an eye on Ajay Edwards. He and Payton will have a good battle for the fullback shirt. Edwards just has a bit of everything about him. He's real quality. One of a number of very. VERY good fullbacks coming through. Winters and Sharp in the year above are proper talents! Sharp getting his chance due to Winters' injury and boy did he take it!

[Which Tyler]

Love that from Angus - do not be surprised if the captain receives the honour of captaining the side at some stage.

Very surprised he doesn't name-check Tamani - who seems the obvious one to call out to "keep an eye out for"

[Which Tyler]

Worth putting this up:

Match Days & Fixtures: August 2025
Round 1 – Friday 8th August (Stellenberg High School)
South Africa A v Ireland (10.30 BST, 11.30 S.A.)
Georgia v England (12.30 BST, 13.30 S.A.)
South Africa v France (14.30 BST, 15.30 S.A.)


Round 2 – Tuesday 12th August (Boland Landbou)
South Africa A v Georgia (10.30 BST, 11.30 S.A.)
South Africa v Ireland (12.30 BST, 13.30 S.A.)
England v France (14.30 BST, 15.30 S.A.)


Round 3 – Saturday 16th August (Paarl Gimnasium)
France v South Africa A (10.30 BST, 11.30 S.A.)
Ireland v Georgia (12.30 BST, 13.30 S.A.)
South Africa v England (14.30 BST, 15.30 S.A.)

Official streaming site:
https://live.supersportschools.com/sear ... type=rugby
You have to sign up, but it's free to do so

ETA: Did someone pull out? 2 SA teams? or is it a "price" to pay for them hosting?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Love that from Angus - do not be surprised if the captain receives the honour of captaining the side at some stage.

Very surprised he doesn't name-check Tamani - who seems the obvious one to call out to "keep an eye out for"

the only hope is he wrote this before the team was announced

[Which Tyler]

Good write up in nextgenXV.com
https://nextgenxv.com/2025/08/04/u18-in ... o-compete/

Key bits here:

The touring sides meanwhile all played in the U18 Six Nations Festival, and there will be a couple of tasty repeat fixtures from that Ireland and Georgia meet on Matchday 3 after an epic game in the Six Nations, won 26-21 by Ireland. Before that, England and France meet on Matchday 2, when they met in the Six Nations it went down to the wire, England winning 29-27.

England meanwhile effectively send an U17 side, using this tour as the starting point for their 2025/26 season, rather than the end point of their 2024/25 season. Each and every team uses this tour for a variety of different purposes.

There will be plenty of spice on the field right from the off. South Africa v France looks the headline fixture on the opening day and is set to be an emotional one as well, with the memory of Narjissi no doubt right at the forefront. Prior to that Georgia will look to get one over England after coming close last year, while South Africa A kick the party off against Ireland at 11.30am local time.

Round 2 sees the rematch of that epic from the Six Nations, England v France, in the headline slot at 3.30pm local time, with a massive South Africa v Ireland game in the middle slot. Last year South Africa won an epic 38-26, hopefully a similar game unfolds.

The final day of action kicks off with France v South Africa A, which should be a strong encounter, then Ireland and Georgia meet. Ireland have beaten Georgia the last two times they met, here last year and in the Six Nations, but both were incredibly tight. Georgia will be thinking third time lucky. The Series rounds off at 3.30pm local time with South Africa hosting England. South Africa won it 39-14 last time around, England will be hoping for closer this time around, while South Africa will be seeking inspiration from their U20 side, who won the World Rugby U20s last month in sensational style.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Good write up in nextgenXV.com
https://nextgenxv.com/2025/08/04/u18-in ... o-compete/

Key bits here:

The touring sides meanwhile all played in the U18 Six Nations Festival, and there will be a couple of tasty repeat fixtures from that Ireland and Georgia meet on Matchday 3 after an epic game in the Six Nations, won 26-21 by Ireland. Before that, England and France meet on Matchday 2, when they met in the Six Nations it went down to the wire, England winning 29-27.

England meanwhile effectively send an U17 side, using this tour as the starting point for their 2025/26 season, rather than the end point of their 2024/25 season. Each and every team uses this tour for a variety of different purposes.

There will be plenty of spice on the field right from the off. South Africa v France looks the headline fixture on the opening day and is set to be an emotional one as well, with the memory of Narjissi no doubt right at the forefront. Prior to that Georgia will look to get one over England after coming close last year, while South Africa A kick the party off against Ireland at 11.30am local time.

Round 2 sees the rematch of that epic from the Six Nations, England v France, in the headline slot at 3.30pm local time, with a massive South Africa v Ireland game in the middle slot. Last year South Africa won an epic 38-26, hopefully a similar game unfolds.

The final day of action kicks off with France v South Africa A, which should be a strong encounter, then Ireland and Georgia meet. Ireland have beaten Georgia the last two times they met, here last year and in the Six Nations, but both were incredibly tight. Georgia will be thinking third time lucky. The Series rounds off at 3.30pm local time with South Africa hosting England. South Africa won it 39-14 last time around, England will be hoping for closer this time around, while South Africa will be seeking inspiration from their U20 side, who won the World Rugby U20s last month in sensational style.

This is the key line when assessing how we get one. It is basically a team of lower 6th and 5th former. We moved to this model about four years back, which can sometimes give a false impression of how good, or bad, we are, as the lads will often be playing against boys who are preparing for their first season of professional rugby, whilst ours are still a year out from A Levels.

We could easily lose all three games. Georgia were a real handful in the Six Nations Festival, France are always tough, and the Saffers, well, they're the Saffers.

If you look at the side that played France in this years 6n Festival there are a lot of lads lined up for the repeat fixture in the backs, but it is the forwards where the difference matters.

15. James Pater (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
14. Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
13. Will Knight (vc) (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
12. Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
11. Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
10. Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
9. Isaac Mears (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
1. Alan Poku (Saracens, 3 caps)
2. Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
3. Harry Wright (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
4. Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
5. Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, 3 caps)
6. Elliot Williams (c) (Harlequins, 9 caps)
7. Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
8. George Marsh (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)

Replacements
16. Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins, 3 caps)
17. Oliver Spencer (Yorkshire Academy, 3 caps)
18. Sam Bland (Yorkshire Academy, 3 caps)
19. Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
20. Tate Williams (Harlequins, 2 caps)
21. Matthew Branch-Holland (Saracens, 5 caps)
22. James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
23. Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
24. Zac Finch (Saracens, 2 caps)
25. Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)

Of the backs there's 3 from the 6N side missing, but in the pack it is most of them. Of 13 forwards in the match day squad only 3 were lower 6th lads who have been retained for this one. I'll check the French squad in a bit. But a lower 6th pack vs an upper 6th pack should not bode well.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Looking at the French squad they have gone similar to us in terms of picking the younger age players, wtih only three of their squad having been involved in the 6N Festival

France
Auguste Désiré Albuisson (Racing 92/Rugby Club Courbevoie)
Marius Aidemar Ghion (Castres O/S C Mazamet)
Cléo Bard (Lyon OU/Valence Romans Drôme Rugby)
Lilian Baret (Lyon OU/CS Bourgoin Jallieu)
Valentin Bouju (Stade Rochelais/La Rochelle)
Yanis Brosset (AS Montferandaise/RC St Martin du Lac)
Bixintxo Daguerre (Aviron Bayonnais/RC Ustaritz Jatxou)
Mahno Dealle Facquez (Aviron Bayonnais/AS Soustons)
Martin Desechalliers (Racing 92/RC Vélizy Villacoublay)
Guillaume Didey (Stade Français/VGA St Maur)
Sandro Dubois Martin (Montpellier HR/RC Châteaurenard)
Andoni Echegaray (Biarritz O/Bidart Union Club)
Louis Favrau (CA Bègles Bordeaux G/Entente Ambares Saint Loubes)
Tom Frelaut (Provence Rugby/Rugby Club Pertuis Manosque)
Jules Freynet (CA Bègles Bordeaux G/RC Cubzaguais)
Timéo Gillouin Lemaire (Castres O/Porto Vecchio XV
Petit Jean Iposo Ohoto (RC Vannes/Évreux A C Rugby)
Gaston Lagneau (Racing 92/Paris XO Rugby)
Damien Lam (US Colomiers/US Colomiers)
Wesley Masima (Provence Rugby/Rugby Club Fos sur Mer)
Malobé Mbaye (Stade Français/Paris Université Club)
Christian Mendes Tani (RC Toulon/RC Las)
Gaëtan Ngassa Manach (RC Vannes/Rennes Étudiants Club
Matthieu Palmier (AS Montferandaise/Stade Aurillacois)
Jules Said (CA Bègles Bordeaux G/UA Vernoise Vergt)
Giovanny Tafili (CA Brive Corrèze/CA Brive Corrèze)
Prince Emmanuel Tambo Fantcho (CA Bègles Bordeaux G/Stade Foyen)
Nolhan Watat (RC Massy/Viry Chatillon Rugby Club)

Lilian Baret is a monster! Hell of a No8. But keep an eye out on Gillouin-Lemaire. Yet another sensational 9 coming out of France!!

[Epaminondas Pules]

16 of Georgia's 26 man squad played in this years 6Ns Festival, mostly from the forwards, who will be a nightmare to keep hold of. Giorgi Ardzenadze in the backrow is very good! Played a lot of minutes in the U20 Junior World Cup last month abnd you'd have never guessed he was playing up!

And you can't have a Georgian team with a shout to the front row. Gabriel Razmadze is probably the stand out there. His willingness to carry and carry and carry is astonishing. Work rate wise, he's right up there, and of course he can push heavy things!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Ireland have gone the other way to France and England and largely just picked their best squad. All apart from four were in the 6N Festival squad. Fitzpatrick looks the pick of their bunch. Absolute quality hooker coming out of Newbridge. Genuine all round game in his locker and absolutely no surprise that Leinster gave him an academy contract. Ireland have a good pack and some real finishers in the backline.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Finally South Africa. It seems odd to say it, but this SA side (the main squad) are better in the back than fowards. The forwards are good, but they have some incredible backs on display. Siyaya will likely get the fullback spot. He's been scoring for fun in schools rugby this year, whilst their centres will be an nightmare to deal with. Maybe their only downside is the half backs, but when you've got Muller in the centres even slow ball is front foot ball!

The A side are more of a mix. Probably been vry hard to pick the forwards between the main and A squads. It is not surprising to see so many from the Paarl schools in the squad.

[Which Tyler]

For the stream, you have to sign up, which only takes a minute or so, and is free

https://live.supersportschools.com/even ... 5e027c3e0/


NB: There's some disagreement on time - some sites say 12.30, some say 12.15 - this may or may not be the difference between "broadcast starts", and "match starts"

[Which Tyler]

Not the start we'd have been looking for

[Which Tyler]

Looks like Georgia doesn't know who their back-of-shirt sponsor is

[Which Tyler]

Wow, that's harsh.

Georgia put the ball up in the air, and into our 22.

​Shields (E10) calls mark, catches the ball, realises play hasn't stopped, and put his arm up to indicate the mark.


​Ref says to play on as he needs to catch the ball before calling mark, but call it immediately, so the first call was too early, the second too late.

[FKAS]

Didn't see all of it but some school boy stuff from well the school boys. Opting for the corner towards the end instead of the three points to take the lead was foolish. Take your points and make Georgia chase the game. Talbot kicking it out on the full with the ref shouting "taken back". Real lack of breakdown threat from England it seemed.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Size and power told in the end as Georgia just went tight for most of the second half. A 10 point deficit was just too much. Referee as you expect at this level was weirdly picky on some stuff but couldn't give a toss about going off your feet. There's simply no way for England to even attempt to turn Georgia over as they just flop over the ball on every single carry. As a defence there is very little you can do at all in that situation. We gave away too many offside penalties through being over keen to get at the runners.

Some very silly individual errors and decision making cost in the end, alongside some sloppiness with the ball.

Pleased with the scrum. Not rewarded as much as we could have been, but the emphasis at this level is on playing. Considering the pack were up against a team a year older they were decent in the set piece. Maul defence not so much.

[fivepointer]

Looked pretty good when we had the ball. Just didnt get enough of it. Some naive play at times but these are lads who are finding their way at this level. Our two tight heads are very big lads. Bray and Laidlaw were good in the pack.

Some odd calls from the ref but he was consistent in allowing supporting players to simply flop on to the tackled player and seal off the ball. This happened at the u20 JWC too, so i imagine the refs been told to turn a blind eye to it.

[Which Tyler]

French team to play England tomorrow

1. TAMBO FANTCHO (CA Bègles Bordeaux)
2. LAM (US Colomiers)
3. TAFILI (CA Brive Corrèze)
4. LAGNEAU (Racing 92)
5. MENDES TANI (RC Toulon)
6. BARD (Lyon OU)
7. AUDEMAR GHION (Castres O)
8. BARET (c) (Lyon OU)

09. BOUJU (Stade Rochelais)
10. FAVRAU (CA Bègles Bordeaux)
11. BROSSET (AS Montferandaise)
12. DIDEY (Stade Français)
13. NGASSA MANAC (RC Vannes)
14. FRELAUT (Provence Rugby)
15. LAOUNA (FC Grenoble)

16. FREYNET (CA Bègles Bordeaux)
17. IPOSO OHOTO (RC Vannes
18. WATAT (RC Massy)
19. DESECHALLIERS (Racing 92)
20. PALMIER (AS Montferandaise)
21. DEALLE FACQUEZ (Aviron Bayonnais)
22. ALBUISSON (Racing 92)
23. GILLOUIN LEMAIRE (Castres O)
24. MASIMA (Provence Rugby)
25. MBAYE (Stade Français)
26. ECHEGARAY (Biarritz O)