England U18 coaches Jonathan Pendlebury and Will Parkin have selected their 26-player squad to face Georgia, in their final 2024 U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival outing.
The England pathway side are seeking to retain a 100% win record, when they face off against the tournament newcomers this Sunday, kicking-off at 14:30 BST at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
Tickets to the final match day are free of charge and will be available to watch on the England Rugby YouTube channel.
U18 Men’s management name a fully capped side for the first time in the tournament, with eight pathway players awarded their first international appearances across the first two matches of this year’s competition. This year’s edition of the festival is the third successive staging of the U18 age-grade tournament, which incorporates the unions of Portugal and Georgia for the first time.
Connor Treacey resumes his captaincy of the side and makes his first start at number eight, with Matchday 2 skipper Patrick Hogg one of three forwards to retain their starting berth after victory against Scotland. Dan Green (Sale Sharks), Tyler Offiah (London & South Central) and Exeter Chiefs duo Nick Lilley and Israel Akinrowo reclaim their place in the starting backline.
Last-minute heroics from the boot of Bath Rugby’s James Linegar secured England’s opening day win over Wales to finish 36-35, England then continuing their form with a four-try outing against Ross Miller’s Scotland. Georgia, conversely, succumbed to Scotland 22-14 before an historic first tournament win over France on Wednesday, finishing 20-19.
Jonathan Pendlebury said: “Georgia and Portugal have been welcome additions to the tournament, already proving their worth with impressive performances and the importance of collective development at this level can’t be understated. We’re relishing the challenge ahead this weekend.
“The coaches and I have been thoroughly impressed with the headstrong mentality and brotherhood of our team, it’s been a really pleasing aspect of the last week and has been fostered through a strong work ethic and willing to learn.
“Connor and his teammates have championed our principles of exploration, adaptation and brotherhood which has led to positive results thus far, and it bodes well for the future of our men’s pathway system in years to come.”
England U18 Men’s team to face Georgia
(includes club, school and community club)
15 Dan Green (Sale Sharks, St Ambrose School, Bowdon RUFC) *
14 Tyler Offiah (London & South Central, Wellington College, Ealing Trailfinders) *
13 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, Ivybridge RFC) *
12 Israel Akinrowo (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, Devenport Services RFC) *
11 Rafe Witheat (Northampton Saints, Stowe School, Ampthill RUFC) *
10 James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School, Chippenham RFC) *
9 Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity School, Bromley RFC) *
1 Josh Mann (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College, Penzance & Newlyn RFC) *
2 Jimmy Staples (Harlequins, Seaford School, Worthing Rugby Club) *
3 Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, Durham City Rugby Football Club) *
4 Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, London Irish Amateur RFC) *
5 Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College, Overton RFC) *
6 Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, Blaydon Rugby Club) *
7 Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar, Rochdale RUFC) *
8 Connor Treacey (c) (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff, New Milton RFC) *
Replacements
16 George Knowles (Midlands West, Hereford Cathedral School, Ledbury Rugby Club) *
17 Jamie Miller (Harlequins, Whitgift School, Battersea Ironsides Rugby Club) *
18 Ollie Streeter (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, Haywards Heath RFC)*
19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, Bedford School, Bedford Blues RFC) *
20 Solomon Shand (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury College, Aylesbury RFC) *
21 Olly Allport (Gloucester Rugby, Dean Close College, Stow-on-the-wold & District RFC) *
22 Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints, Bedford School, Royston Rugby Club) *
23 Felix Bateman-Champain (Harlequins, Worth School, East Grinstead RFC) *
24 Fraser Rawlins (Saracens, Haileybury, Saracens) *
25 Finn Newton (Saracens, Haileybury, Hertford RFC) *
26 George Pearson (Midlands Central, City of Oxford College, Buckingham RUFC) *
*denotes a player capped at U18 level for England
England U18 Men’s Festival Fixtures and Results
Matchday 1 (Saturday 30th March)
England 36-35 Wales
England 36-35 Wales
Matchday 2 (Wednesday 3rd April)
Scotland 6-28 England
Scotland 6-28 England
Matchday 3 (Sunday 7th April)
England v Georgia (14:30 BST kick-off)
England v Georgia (14:30 BST kick-off)
