Looking to add to the Six Nations success of the England U20s, Jonathan Pendlebury’s England U18s are gearing up for their upcoming U18 Six Nations Festival. Kicking off this weekend in the Italian city of Parma, England U18s will take on Wales, Scotland and Georgia over the next week of action.
The U18s Six Nations does not run in the conventional manor, of that of the senior men’s, women’s or U20s format. Instead of having a week’s build up and playing the tournament across five separate weekends, the U18s only get three fixtures to showcase their talents, with the opportunities coming thick and fast over a space of just eight days.
Beginning on Saturday 30th March, England commence their U18 Six Nations campaign against Wales, before then taking on Scotland the following Wednesday 4th April. The final round for Pendlebury’s side is against Eastern European bruisers Georgia, in what will be a unique challenge given the expanded format of the age-group Championship. Speaking on the test that is anticipated from Wales and especially the Georgians, England U18 captain Connor Treacey spoke in a recent England media event;
“It is always a privilege to lead us out in the games.” Treacey said. “Then to go and play three games on the bounce, it’s pretty special, especially first of all against Wales as well. Always a big game against Wales, but it’s always special to lead the country as well.”
“Obviously it’s going to be a great challenge (against Georgia). Looking at their senior team, and who they’ve got in the ranks. So like, we’re looking at getting a good challenge for us, always looking to get better looking to learn and see what we can do. But they’ll pose their own strengths and we’re trying to counter those as well like in any other game, but now I’m sure they’ll come with their own strengths, and challenges for us as well. So it should be good, good fixtures towards the end of this campaign.”
Head coach Jonathan Pendlebury followed this up, by explaining the inclusions of Georgia and also Portugal into this year’s festival. In actuality, the tournament should be named the ‘U18 Eight Nations Festival’ due to the number of participants, with Ireland, France, Italy and Portugal split into a separate group from England, Scotland, Wales and the Georgians. Speaking on how this is going to improve the overall quality of opposition, and as a result his own side’s performances, Pendlebury said;
“It’s a big opportunity for is in that the overarching theme for the England U18s is exploring, so it’s exploring new opposition for us. The Georgian Rugby Association reached out or to the RFU last year, there was the opportunity in their preparations for the Junior World Championship and ours, as they went out, so then just before he left, confirm that opportunity and then Mark (Mapletoft) took the U20s out (to play Georgia U20s).
“Following that, we reached out to Georgia and said ‘could we play a fixture against you, a standalone in March’ they were dead keen they were talking to a lot of the other home nations as well and then yes, Six Nations reached out to both Portugal and Georgia to try and bring them in.
“I think everybody saw the success of the way, of that the expansive rugby that Portugal tried to play at the World Cup. We did a bit of an under 20 activity, the under 20s went out to Portugal for a training camp in December, we did a bit of an inter-training activity with the Portuguese U20s there.
“So, just trying to grow our opportunities for the guys, trying to grow opportunities where we can continue exploring against different opposition. And as Connor said, look, their (Georgia’s) senior side is improving, you’ve only got a look at how many Georgian players are playing across Europe, in not just the Italian and the French leagues but in England as well, and certainly at Championship and Premiership level there’s more and more. So if rugby in Europe is strong, it’s only going to make the northern hemisphere even stronger, I think.”
Turning his attention to his England U18 side, and Pendelbury has named eight uncapped players within his squad for the Six Nations Festival. The cohort of debuting players includes Exeter Chiefs’ Israel Akinrowo, Olly Allport and Jonno Balding of Gloucester Rugby, Tyler Offiah and Fraser Rawlins of Saracens and Harlequins trio Elliot Williams, Felix Bateman-Champain and Ollie Streeter. Speaking on what he hopes to see from the new arrivals as they get a taste of what is expected amongst an England rugby environment, the head coach added;
“It’s a bit of everything. The guys have got their own individual goals short, medium and long term, their own aspirations and to give them a bit of a taste of what professional rugby looks like. They’re coming into camp, they will be checking in with the medics every morning, doing their own self assessments that they can then get ready for practice.
“They’re previewing games, they’re reviewing training, they’re getting ready for the fixture, they’re reviewing again, just everything that they might be expected on, for the next 8,10,12 years if that’s going to be a job for the next career. It’s giving them the opportunity to experience that, it’s giving them the opportunity to play other nations, and play overseas.
“Some guys it’s their fourth cap, some guys it’s their second or third, other guys yeah it will be their very first cap and some might have three caps at the end of this U18 block with us. Some are still under 17 in year 12 and hopefully will have the opportunity to come back with it in the summer maybe, or even beyond further in 2025.”
With the honour of being named captain of the England U18s, Treacey has been bestowed the role of helping the new players, in making the jump from age-grade club rugby to the international stage. Whether it be a quiet word in the changing room to a nervous debutant, or gearing up a newcomer with a full head of steam, the Bath back-row is ready to help out wherever he can.
“Definitely, it’s a nervous experience but it’s exciting as well. They’ve been picked for a reason they’ve been picked to show their strengths and explore that, and maybe a higher level quality of game. I think just to me, like I said, it might be a pick up on those little conversations, or it might just be like, reassuring them and saying like that, ‘play to your strengths, and then use what you’ve done, to get yourself here again, push on and have a good tournament.’
“So I think as much as they’re uncapped, they’re, very experienced players. They’re very, quite good quality players otherwise they wouldn’t be in this environment. So it’s good, again, it’s a good stepping stone for everyone in this group is to go and push on and whatever or whoever happens to work with them.”
Pendlebury added on his captains comments, stating that the helping hands may come in a non rugby-specific scenario. Away from the intricacies of a successful scrummage, and the complexities of the line-out playbook, the first fixture for an England U18 player can be a daunting experience with reality checking in when they don the famous red rose on the warm-up top. From getting the bus to the stadium to running out in front of England fans for the first time, Pendlebury discussed how the debut is a monumental occasion for the players.
The head coach explained this, as well as how Treacey’s teachings may be as simple as telling a debuting teammate where to stand in the line, as they prepare to sing their first national anthem ahead of an England age-grade match.
“To add to what Connors just said there, it’s certainly for their short academy career so far, some of these guys might have been in the academy for the last two years, suddenly started when they were 14 years old through developing player programs. It’s reward and recognition for that as well.
“They’ve gone and come through from the club game, school game, they played club and school. Then in the regional Academy, they might have played since they were six years old, or the might have just picked up the ball at 12 or whatever it is. What are we expecting from them? Just like Connor said, to come and enjoy it and have a go and show us what you can do because that’s why you’ve been picked, hopefully they get the opportunity.
“But just something else as well is, yes, they go on busses and coaches to games but to go on a bus to an England game is probably a bit different, because you wearing the England polo, you’re wearing the England tracksuit and you’re getting ready for an age group international fixture. We can’t replicate going on the buss through the gates at Twickenham, but this is part of what that journey is.
“It might be that Connor knows exactly where he’s standing in the national anthem, because he’s probably standing next to the officials in the middle. Whereas you’ve got somebody else who’s walking out there, he doesn’t know where to stand, but he’s got his England jersey and he’s got his kit on, he’s got his gum shield tucked into his sock. He’s got his head guard on, maybe, maybe not, and he’s got his tracksuit top on, and he doesn’t know where to stand, and it could be just kind of saying, ‘stand next to me. I’ve got you’.
“It’s again, you might think everybody knows what to do, but they don’t know what to do. You might get somebody singing ‘God save the Queen’ instead of ‘God save the King’ but it is to get them ready for what is next hopefully there, in their careers.”