Beckerleg to make first U18s start

By Mark Stevens
10/4/23

Exeter Chiefs youngster Oscar Beckerleg will make his first start for England Under-18s in their latest Six Nations encounter against Italy on Wednesday (5:15pm).

The Truro College forward made his debut in the narrow 23-22 loss to France in the opening round, but gets the nod from the outset in this latest encounter, partnering Tom Burrow in the England engine room.

Ben Redshaw will captain the side from full-back and he is joined in the back three by Conor Byrne and Charlie Griffin.

First round try-scorer Kepueli Tuipulotu starts at hooker, alongside props Ralph McEachran and Billy Sela. Elsewhere in the pack, Henry Pollock, George Timmins and Jack Lightbown make up the back-row

Scrum-half Lucas Friday partners Josh Bellamy in the halves, while Charlie Myall and Ollie Davies team up in the centres.

"Our match against France was very competitive, and while we lost by the barest of margins, there were many positives to come from the pitch," said head coach Jon Pendlebury. "The lads expressed themselves well in open play and there were also encouraging moves around the set piece.

"The Six Nations Festival is a great environment for the England players to develop individually and as a team, and so they’ll take away a lot of experience from that opening clash. We’re now focused on our second-round fixture.

"Italy won their opening match by punishing Wales for their mistakes. We also know they can score from anywhere, so it’s critical we play well as a unit and the players give it their all for teammates and country."

ENGLAND UNDER-18s SIDE TO FACE ITALY UNDER-18s

15. Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School, capt)
14. Charlie Griffin (London Irish, Harrow School)
13. Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar)
12. Charlie Myall (Midlands Central, City of Oxford College)
11. Conor Byrne (Harlequins, Trinity School)
10. Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Trinity School)
9. Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity School)
1. Ralph McEachran (Academy: London Irish, School: The Bishop Wand School)
2. Kepueli Tuipulotu (London Irish, Harrow School)
3. Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
4. Oscar Beckerleg (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)
5. Tom Burrow (Yorkshire Academy, Heckmondwike GS)
6. George Timmins (Bath Rugby, Millfield School)
7. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Stowe School)
8. Jack Lightbown (Sale Sharks, The Sixth Form Bolton)

16. Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle School)
17. Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)
18. Tye Raymont (Yorkshire Academy, Bishop Burton College)
19. Junior Kpoku (Finborough School)
20. Reuben Logan (Midlands Central, Berkhamsted School)
21. Will Owen (Midlands West, Ellesmere College)
22. Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Stowe School)
23. Tom Threlfall (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham High)
24. Toby Baker (Yorkshire Academy, St Peters School)
25. Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans School)26. Ned McCormack (Yorkshire Academy, Woodhouse Grove)