The London Irish Academy has a rich tradition of producing a variety of talented rugby players throughout the age ranges, with many of them representing on the international age grade levels.
This week, the U18’s continued this tradition with four U18 Academy players called up for the England U18s 42-man development camp squad in Bristol which will serve as preparation ahead of March’s fixtures against Scotland and France before April’s U18 Six Nations Festival.
Phil Cokanasiga (younger brother of former Exile Joe Cokanasiga), Will Joseph (younger brother of London Irish Academy graduate Jonathan Joseph), Luke Green and Chunya Munga have all been called up to the squad.
Fin Rossiter, who was a part of the England U18 squad for the AON International Series in South Africa last summer, missed out on selection due to a hamstring injury.
Another London Irish Academy player, Max Thomas, has been selected for Italy’s U18 training camp.
“We are incredibly proud of the boys for their selection into the international training squads” said Patrick O’Grady, academy manager.
“They are fantastic young men, both on and off the field. The boys are a great representation of our Academy.”
“Thank you to all our Academy staff for aiding and supporting the boy’s development over the years. The hours of dedication from our staff and the players themselves has come to fruition. As a club we are very proud of their achievements and I am sure this will help inspire our next generation of Academy players coming through the system” added O’Grady.
The side will face Scotland at Billingham RUFC on Sunday 17 March (KO 2pm GMT) and France a week later at Cheshunt RFC (KO 2pm GMT).
The U18 Six Nations Festival will see England 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.
England U18s development squad
Anjo Ademuwagun (Wasps) Harrow School
Harry Ascherl (Bristol Bears) Clifton College
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby) Beechen Cliff School
George Barton (Gloucester Rugby) Dean Close 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
Joe Carpenter (Yorkshire Carnegie) Woodhouse Grove
Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby) Cheltenham College
Phil Cokanasiga (London Irish) St Pauls College
Tom Curtis (Sale Sharks) Sedbergh School
Theodore Dan (Saracens) Alleyn's School
Jack Forsythe (Worcester Warriors) Warwick School
Harry Fry (Gloucester Rugby) Hartpury College
Josh Gillespie (Northampton Saints) Millfield School
Josh Gray (Gloucester Rugby) Dean Close School
Luke Green (London Irish) St Paul’s Catholic College
James Harper (Sale Sharks) Merchant Taylor's
Xavier Hastings (Bath Rugby) Bishop Wordsworth's
Louis Hillman-Cooper (Gloucester Rugby) Cheltenham College
Joe Howard (Gloucester Rugby) Hartpury College
Will Joseph (London Irish) Millfield School
Jonny Law (Leicester Tigers) Rugby School
Louis Lynagh (Harlequins) Hampton School
Tom Manz (Leicester Tigers) Denstone College
George Martin (Leicester Tigers) Brooksby Melton College
Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby) Beechen Cliff School
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
Sam Riley (Harlequins) St George's Weybridge
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks) Wirral Grammar
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers) Norwich School
John Stewart (Bath Rugby) Beechen Cliff School
Will Trenholm (Harlequins) Cranleigh School
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers) Oakham School
George Warboys (Bath Rugby) Beechen Cliff
James Whitcombe (Leicester Tigers) Woodhouse Grove
Jude Williams (Wasps) Caterham School
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