News
England Under 18s will be hoping to defend their FIRA/AER European Championship title when they take on France in Grenoble on Saturday, kick off 4pm (GMT).
With a record crowd of 20,000 expected at the Stade de Alpes, England have made encouraging progress in this year’s tournament, beating Portugal 82-8 in the opening round before overcoming Scotland 25-12 in the semi-final.
Hooker Jack Walker knows that it will be a tough contest, but can’t wait to get out there:
“It’s a huge occasion,” he said. “It’s going to be massive. The French fans will be loud, and their players will have a big crowd behind them, it’s up to us to hold our nerve.”
Scrum half Stuart Townsend added: “It’s a massive game, none of us have played in front of that many people, so all of the boys will work hard in training and we’re just excited to get out there.”
England U18 starting XV to play France
15 Howard Packman (Northampton Saints & Moulton College)
14 Tom Howe (London Wasps & Shiplake College)
13 Nick Tompkins (Saracens & Oaklands College)
12 Rory Jennings (Bath Rugby & Bryanston School)
11 Tom Fowlie (London Irish & St Pauls Catholic College)
10 Josh Sharp (Saracens & Oaklands College)
9 Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs & Ivybridge College)
1 Luke Chapman (Exeter Chiefs & Truro College)
2 Jack Walker (Leeds Carnegie & Prince Henry’s Grammar)
3 Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie & Prince Henry’s Grammar)
4 Jordan Onojaife (Northampton Saints & Stowe School)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby & Bryanston School)
6 Matt Bolwell (Exeter Chiefs & Truro College)
7 Andrew Boyce (Worcester Warriors & Kings Worcester)
8 James Chisholm (Harlequins & Brighton College) (c)
Replacements:
16 Sam James (Saracens & Bishops Stortford)
17 Neale Farthing (Leicester Tigers & Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth College)
18 Lewis Boyce (Leeds Carnegie & Prince Henry’s Grammar)
19 Charlie Hewitt (Exeter Chiefs & Ivybridge College)
20 Josh Peters (Northampton Saints & Oundle School)
21 James Mitchell (Sale Sharks & Lymm School)
22 Josh Skelcey (Northampton Saints & Moulton College)
23 Louis Clayton-Molloy (London Wasps & Harrow School)
24 Andrew Hughes (Sale Sharks & Hartpury College
25 George Perkins (Saracens & Oaklands)
