Three London Irish Academy players have been named in the England U18's squads for this month’s fixtures against Scotland and France.
Phil Cokanasiga and Luke Green will play for England U18 in their game against Scotland at Billingham RUFC on Sunday 17 March (kick-off 2pm). Chunya Munga will feature in the squad the following weekend against France at Chestnut RFC on Sunday 24 March (kick-off 2pm).
Cokanasiga and Munga were part of the squad that toured South Africa in August 2018 at the start of the pathway season, while this marks Green’s first international call up.
The U18s are led by pathway performance coaches Jim Mallinder and Steve Bates, alongside consultant coaches Mark Luffman, Sean Marsden and London Irish Academy forwards coach Jonathan Fisher, who join for the season as part of the coach development programme.
The U18 season began with August’s AON International Series in South Africa in which England played France, Wales and South Africa Schools showing significant improvement throughout the tournament.
Following March’s fixtures, England play in the U18 Six Nations Festival which will see the squad face Wales on Saturday 13 April, before matches against Ireland (Wednesday 17 April) and France (Sunday, 21 April).
The festival, which is participated in by all six unions, sees each nation play three fixtures over 10 days. The teams will be hosted by Hartpury University and Hartpury College, with fixtures across three venues - Gillman’s Ground, Sixways Stadium and Kingsholm Stadium.
“It’s great to be back on home soil for these two fixtures after the summer development tour," said Mallinder.
“We want to see some progress and for the players to have developed. We are looking to play an exciting, attacking brand of rugby but when we have not got the ball we need to be organised and enjoy defending.
“Our U18 matches give the players a really good opportunity to perform on the international stage. For some of them it will be the start of their international pathway, a few have already had the opportunity in South Africa, but there will be others that play in March who weren’t involved in the summer so this is a great chance for them to show what they can do at this level.”
England U18 squad v Scotland (Billingham RUFC on Sunday 17 March, KO 2pm GMT)
Orlando Bailey, Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Harvey Beaton, Saracens (Sutton Valence)
Archie Benson, Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Jenson Boughton, Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
Joe Browning, Leicester Tigers (Denstone College)
Jack Clement, Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)
Phil Cokanasiga, London Irish (St Pauls College)
Tom Curtis, Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
Harry Fry, Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
Josh Gray, Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Luke Green, London Irish (St Paul’s Catholic College)
Louis Hillman-Cooper, Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)
George Martin, Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
Nahum Merigan, Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Raphael Quirke, Sale Sharks (St Ambrose College)
Sam Riley, Harlequins (St George's Weybridge)
Tom Roebuck, Sale Sharks (Wirral Grammar)
John Stewart, Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Will Trenholm, Harlequins (Cranleigh School)
Jack van Poortvliet, Leicester Tigers (Oakham School)
Jude Williams, Wasps (Caterham School)
George Worboys, Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff)
England U18s squad v France (Cheshunt RFC, 24 March KO 2pm GMT)
Alfie Barbeary, Wasps (Bloxham School)
George Barton, Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Harvey Beaton, Saracens (Sutton Valence)
Archie Benson, Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Jack Clement, Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)
Tom Curtis, Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
Theodore Dan, Saracens (Alleyn's School)
Josh Gillespie, Northampton Saints (Millfield School)
Josh Gray, Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
James Harper, Sale Sharks (Merchant Taylor's)
Louis Hillman-Cooper, Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)
Joe Howard, Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
Louis Lynagh, Harlequins (Hampton School)
George Martin, Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
Chunya Munga, London Irish (Leighton Park School)
Zac Nearchou, Wasps (Radley College)
Max Ojomoh, Bath Rugby (KES Bath)
Raphael Quirke, Sale Sharks (St Ambrose College)
Jack Reid, Harlequins (Wellington College)
Tom Roebuck, Sale Sharks (Wirral Grammar)
Freddie Steward, Leicester Tigers (Norwich School)
Jack van Poortvliet, Leicester Tigers (Oakham School)
James Whitcombe, Leicester Tigers (Woodhouse Grove)
England U18 fixtures
England v Scotland
Sunday 17 March, KO 2pm GMT
Billingham RUFC: for tickets click - here
England v France
Sunday 24 March, KO 2pm GMT
Cheshunt RFC: for club details click - here
U18 Six Nations Festival fixtures
Matchday one - Saturday 13 April
Gillman’s Ground, Gloucester
12:00 England v Wales
14:30 Ireland v France
17:00 Scotland v Italy
Matchday two - Wednesday 17 April
Sixways Stadium, Worcester
11:00 France v Italy
13:30 Ireland v England
16:00 Wales v Scotland
Matchday three - Sunday 21 April
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
11:00 Scotland v Ireland
13.30 England v France
16:00 Italy v Wales
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