Five London Irish Players in England Under 18s Development Squad to tour Argentina

There are five London Irish players in the England Under 18s Development Squad to tour Argentina this summer announced by the Rugby Football Union today (Thursday).

Peter Austin, Sam Edgerley, Jamie Gibson, Tom Homer and Marcus Watson are included in the squad announced by the Elite Development Department of the RFU.

Commenting on the selection of the players, London Irish Academy Manager Neal Hatley, said, “We’re delighted to have five players in the squad and I congratulate the boys concerned. Last year we only had one player in the national Under 18 team so the fact that there are five this time round indicates the progress we’re making as a club.”

The squad of 32 will play four games against Mendoza, Tucuaman, Buenos Aires and an international test against Argentina. The dates and venues for these fixtures are still to be confirmed but the England young guns will be in Argentina from July 14th to August 6th.

The England team head into the development tour with 25 players who helped England to a Grand Slam of victories in the Six Nations Festival in Cork. There are also call-ups for two Under 18s AER players, whose side finished third in the Association Europeenne de Rugby Championship this season, and five England Under 16s players who picked up a win and a draw in the Four Nations Tournament in Francethis season.

England Under 18s Coach John Fletcher, said: “Going to Argentina is a tremendous opportunity and a fantastic development vehicle for these players. It’s going to be a tough development camp as Argentinean sides and Argentina themselves are known for being strong upfront and being passionate about their rugby.

“We have also called up some of the Under 18s AER and Under 16s players who have proved themselves this season. This will be the start of the process for them, and it will be an outstanding opportunity for them to learn on the next run of the ladder. Between the experienced Under 18s players and the younger ones I think we have got a very good mix in this squad.”

England U18s Development Tour Squad

Forwards

**Peter Austin London Irish Worthing College

*Joe Barker Leeds Carnegie QEGS Wakefield

*David Blackwell GloucesterRugby Hartpury

*James Currie Bath Rugby Millfield

*James Gaskell Sale Sharks Sandbach

*Jamie George Saracens Haileybury

*Jamie Gibson London Irish Marlborough College

*Alex Gray Newcastle Falcons Barnard Castle

*Tom Holmes SaleSharks Sandbach

*Lee Imiolek SaleSharks Sandbach