Bailey named in England U19s squad
By Mark Stevens
21/4/23
Exeter Chiefs youngster Joe Bailey has been named in the England Under-19s side to face Wales U19 tomorrow afternoon (KO 15:00) at Dings RFC in Bristol.
The Exeter College product - who made his Chiefs debut earlier this season in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Bristol Bears - will start in the second-row alongside Bath's Harvey Cuckson.
After a strong Under-20 Six Nations campaign, Leicester’s Finn Carnduff will captain the side from blind-side flanker.
To provide each individual in the 29-player squad equal opportunity to play, a first-half XV will play the opening 40 minutes, followed by the remaining players in the second half.
Entry into the game at Dings Crusaders RFC will be free for spectators.
The fixture against Wales is the first of a two-match series which provides an avenue for players to continue their international development through the England Rugby pathways programme.
The second match of the series sees England U19 take on Italy U19 next Friday, 28 April (KO 19:45), hosted by Bedford Blues at Goldington Road with tickets available online from £10 for adults and £1 for children.
Head coach Alan Dickens said: “While this weekend isn’t a capped match, some of the players selected have never worn an England shirt before, so it’s a special moment for them to wear the rose for the first time.
“The fixture will allow the coaching staff to guide players into the England Rugby pathways programme and see them play in an international environment. It could also be a chance for some to put their hands up ahead of the Under-20 World Championships in South Africa in July, as Charlie Bracken and Sam Harris did ahead of last year’s Summer Series.”
ENGLAND UNDER-19s STARTING XV TO FACE WALES UNDER-19s
1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale)
2. Craig Wright (Northampton)
3. Afolabi Fasogbon (London Irish)
4. Harvey Cuckson (Bath)
5. Joe Bailey (Exeter)
6. Finn Carnduff (Leicester)
7. Tristan Woodman (Sale)
8. Josh Manz (Leicester)
9. Ben Douglas (Newcastle)
10. Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)
11. Alex Wills (Sale)
12. Sean Kerr (Harlequins)
13. Toby Thame (Northampton)
14. Thomas Humphreys (Harlequins)
15. Ioan Jones (Gloucester)
Replacements
Ethan Clarke (Harlequins)
James Isaacs (Saracens)
Caleb Ashworth (Harlequins)
James Halliwell (Bristol Bears)
Harry Browne (Harlequins)
Patrick Pearce (Bristol Bears)
Aaron Tull (Bristol Bears)
Nathan Michelow (Saracens)
Zach Carr (Harlequins)
Ieuan Davies (Bath)
Ludo Kolade (Harlequins)
Isaac Campbell-Wu (Bristol Bears)
George Makepeace-Cubitt (London Irish)
Connor Cross (London Irish)
* Meanwhile, four Exeter Chiefs Academy players have been named in an England Under-17s development camp which will take place from April 27-30 in Gloucester. The quartet selected are Jed Findlay and Nick Lilley (Exeter College) and Charlie Evered and Josh Mann (Truro College).