Maunder to captain England U18s

By Mark Stevens
16/3/18

Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Sam Maunder will skipper the England Under-18s side ahead of their clash with Scotland at Stirling County RFC (KO 12pm) on Sunday.

Maunder is one of three Chiefs, alongside forwards Richard Capstick and Rus Tuima, to have been named in the starting line-up for the game.

Following Sunday’s fixture the U18s will next be involved against Wales on 25 March at Sardis Road, Pontypridd (KO 4.15pm) before the ‘Six Nations Festival’.

The festival, based in Wales, will see England U18s play Scotland at Ystrad Mynach (31 March, KO 12pm), Italy at Cardiff Arms Park (4 April, KO 12pm) and France at the same venue on 8 April (KO 5pm).

Head coach John Fletcher said: “We want to see positive intent both sides of the ball and for them to express their skills and have a good impact on the game. This is the majority of the group that will go to the Six Nations Festival in Wales later this month. We meet on Friday and play on Sunday so that is a good experience for the players in terms of trying to build connections in relatively short periods of time.

"Playing Scotland in Scotland will be a good challenge for our side and they have shown in senior rugby and with the U20s that they are very capable. We will have to play to our very best to perform well in the game.

“For some of the players this will be their first experience of playing for England so they should be super excited about that. This is what they’ve worked towards, they are all in good form, that is why they are in the squad. I’m really looking forward to watching them play on Sunday.”

England U18 starting XV

15. Josh Hodge - Newcastle Falcons (Sedbergh School)
14. Harry Barlow - Harlequins (Cranleigh School)
13. Connor Doherty - Sale Sharks (Kirkham Grammar School)
12. Jack Reeves - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
11. Jacob Morris - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
10. Manu Vunipola - Saracens (Harrow School)
9. Sam Maunder - Exeter Chiefs (Blundell's School, capt)
1. Bevan Rodd - Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
2. Samson Ma'asi - Northampton Saints (St Josephs)
3. Cal Ford - Sale Sharks (Sandbach School)
4. George Martin - Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
5. Will Montgomery - Newcastle Falcons (Kirkbie Kendal School)
6. Richard Capstick - Exeter Chiefs (Exeter College)
7. JJ Tonks - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
8. Rus Tuima - Exeter Chiefs (Exeter College)

Replacements

16. Alfie Barbeary - Wasps (Bloxham School)
17. Lewis Holsey - Worcester Warriors (Solihull School)
18. Jack Bartlett - Gloucester Rugby
19. Rob Farrar - Newcastle Falcons (Sedbergh School)
20. Ted Leatherbarrow - Sale Sharks (Kirkham Grammar School)
21. Blake Boyland - Bristol Rugby (SGS College)
22. Tom Curtis - Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
23. Will Simonds - Wasps (The Henley College)