Chiefs duo named in England U18s squad

By Mark Stevens
26/5/23

Two Exeter Chiefs players have been named in Jonathan Pendlebury 26-player England Under-18s squad ahead of the U18 International Series taking place in South Africa in August.

Exeter College's Nick Lilley, together with Finborough School's Junior Kpoku, will both compete in the tournament in the Cape Town region.

Pendlebury’s squad includes players from the recent Under-18 Six Nations Festival in Dublin, as well as players new to the England Rugby pathways programme.

England’s player pathways programme is a vital development tool for future international rugby; of Steve Borthwick’s 36-player squad for the Guinness Six Nations, 32 of them played England U18.

Pendlebury said: “Congratulations to all players selected in this England men’s U18 squad – it is recognition of the hard work they, their families, schools, junior and community rugby clubs, and academies have put in.

“Some of these players have worked together during this season’s previous development camps, where we’ve focused on exploring boundaries, while for others this could present their first opportunity to represent England.

“As we’ve seen in previous years, the tour of South Africa allows young men to develop in an international environment and come away with invaluable on and off pitch rugby experience.”

ENGLAND UNDER-18s SQUAD TO TOUR SOUTH AFRICA

Forwards

Tayo Adegbemile (London Irish, St Albans School)
Will Conduit (Midlands West, Stourport College, ACE)
Ronan Daniell (Harlequins, Hurstpierpoint College)
Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School)
Junior Kpoku (Exeter Chiefs, Finborough School)
Jack Lightbown (Sale Sharks, The Sixth Form Bolton)
Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
Alfie Longstaff (Yorkshire Academy, Woodhouse Grove)
Jamie Miller (Harlequins, Whitgift School)
Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
Solomon Shand (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury College)
Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Gravesend Grammar School)
Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
Kepueli Tuipulotu (London Irish, Harrow School)

Backs

Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans School)
Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar)
Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity School)
Charlie Griffin (London Irish, Harrow School)
Angus Hall (Saracens, The Judd School, Tonbridge)
Dom Hanson (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar)
Finn Newton (Saracens, Haileybury)
Zuko Robb (Harlequins, Gordons School, ACE)
Tom Threlfall (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham High School)
Charlie West (Saracens, St Albans School)
Toby Wilson (Sale Sharks, Kings Macclesfield)
Finlay Wiseman (London Irish, Hampton School)