London Irish Academy star Rory Taylor has been named in the England under-18s squad to take part in a summer tour of South Africa.

Jonathan Pendlebury, England under-18s Men’s Head Coach, named his 26-man squad this afternoon for the three-match tour this August and included the Exiles’ fly-half.

Previously capped at age-grade level, Taylor will accompany the team for a series of matches in the Cape Town area between Sunday 14 and Monday 29 August, with full match details to be released in due course.     

Pendlebury commented on the squad selection, stating: “This is an exciting overseas tour for this under-18s group and for a good majority of them it will be their first time putting on an England shirt.  

“Seven of last year’s under-18s are returning to the squad and will add to their experiences as well as those of the player group overall.

“I know they will all be looking forward to the opportunity, will work hard with their academies through the summer, support one another and embrace the opportunity that playing overseas against different nations brings.

“Experiences that will develop their game over the long term.” 

Congratulations, Rory!


Full England under-18s squad  
Finn Baker (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School)  
Jack Bennett (Bath Rugby, Monkton Combe School)  
Tom Burrow (Yorkshire Academy, Heckmondwike Grammar School)  
Tom Burton (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School)  
*Conor Byrne (Harlequins, Trinity College)  
Frank Chatterton (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar School)  
*Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints, Oakham School)  
George Edson (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College)  
*Will Glister (Wasps, City of Oxford College)  
*Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Dean Close School)  
Loic Keasey (Worcester Warriors, RGS Worcester)  
Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Whitgift School)  
*Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Stowe School)  
Barney Merrett (Saracens, Sutton Valence School)  
Alex O’Driscoll (Wasps, Berkhamsted)  
Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle School)  
George Perkins (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College)  
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Stowe School)  
Tye Raymont (Yorkshire Academy, Bishop Burton School)  
*Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, Sedbergh School)  
Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)  
Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Gravesend Grammar School)  
*Rory Taylor (London Irish, Wellington College)  
Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears, Clifton College)  
Raff Weston (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)  
Will Wootton (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)  

*Capped at under-18s level in the 2021-22 season. 

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