Four rising stars feature in England Under 18s squad for South Africa tour

Four of London Irish’s rising stars have been named in the England Under 18s squad that will travel to South Africa later this month for a development tour.

Peter Austin, Sam Edgerley, Jonathan Joseph and Marcus Watson feature in the squad of 26 players named for the tour by National Academy Coaches John Fletcher and Peter Walton. The squad is largely based on players from the England Under 18s side that completed a clean sweep of wins in last season's Five Nations Festival.

Austin is a participant in the AASE scheme operated jointly by the club and St Paul’s Catholic College in Sunbury while Joseph and Watson have just started full time in the club’s Academy. Edgerley is a member of the Academy’s EPDG at Wellington College.

England will play three matches in South Africa against Western Province on August 1st, Boland on August 4th and South Africa Schools on August 8th.

England U18s Head Coach Fletcher said: "Development tours like this are crucial to the progress of talented young players at this age. Although playing in the Five Nations Festival is hugely important, players also need to compete against the Southern Hemisphere teams as well. They are some of the strongest sides around and our players need to get used to traveling and touring as that is what happens in international rugby.

"This is without doubt going to be a very demanding tour. South African youth and age grade rugby is as good as any in the world and their school and academy structures are very strong."

England U18s squad

FORWARDS

Harry Allen - Saracens, Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar
Peter Austin - London Irish, St Paul's Catholic College
Ryan Bower - Leicester Tigers, John Cleveland College
Rob Buchanan - Harlequins, St Bedes School
Matt Everard - Leicester Tigers, Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth 1st
Ben Glynn - Bristol Rugby, Filton College
Alex Gray - Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle
Sam Jones - London Wasps, Aylesbury Grammar
Charlie Matthews - Harlequins, Hurstpeirpoint College
Henry Thomas - Unattached, Millfield School
Joe Trayfoot - Harlequins, Epsom College
Sam Twomey - Harlequins, Dulwich College
Billy Vunipola - Unattached, Castle School
Mako Vunipola - Bristol Rugby, Millfield School

BACKS

Joe Cobden - Leicester Tigers, King Edward VI School
Sam Edgerley - London Irish, Wellington College
Owen Farrell - Saracens, St Georges School
George Ford - Leicester Tigers, Rishworth School
Ryan Glynn - Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School
Jonathan Joseph - London Irish, Millfield School
Jake Sharp - Saracens, Oaklands College
Andy Short - Worcester Warriors, Worcester 6th Form College
Sam Stuart - Harlequins, Sedbergh School
Christian Wade - London Wasps, RGS High Wycombe
Jack Wallace - London Wasps, RGS High Wycombe
Marcus Watson - London Irish, St Georges College

The players’ selection once again highlights the invaluable role played by the London Irish Academy in bringing through talented young players. Last Thursday over 130 golfers participated in a highly successful fund-raising day in aid of the Academy at Ealing Golf Club in West London.