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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