The London Irish under-18s squad to take on west London rivals Harlequins under-18s has been announced.

Looking to capitalise on an opening day win in the Premiership Rugby Under-18 Academy League tie against Gloucester Rugby, Irish now face their old adversaries this Thursday (25th) at Hazelwood, ko 5.30pm BST.

A fresh second-row forward paring in Ciaran Brickley and Will Saunders, who both missed out on action in the West Country, are brought into the engine room whilst captain Fin Worley-Brady moves to the base of the pack to replace Jack Lee at number eight.

Two changes are made from last Saturday’s win amongst the backs, substitutes on the day Tyler Offiah and Theo Williamson now earning their place in the starting XV on each wing.

Louis Brickley, Ben Bysouth and Finlay Wiseman are poised for their first Under-18 Academy League appearances of the season off the replacements bench on Thursday.

Whilst Quins opened their campaign with an opening week bye, Irish ascended to second in the Southern Conference of the under-18 League, separated only by points difference between Saracens Under-18s (first) and Bristol Under-18s (third).

A seven-try, 39-17 triumph at Kingsholm saw the young Exiles take home five points as wingers Sam Rockley and Toby Maddock opned the scoring, with tries from Tayo Adegbemile and Cameron Ellis soon followed in the first forty.

Irish ran rampant in the second half to establish the 22-point cushion, Ellis and Maddock bagging their braces with an effort from Tyler Offiah wrapping up the win for the traveling party.

 

London Irish under-18s squad to face Harlequins under-18s

15 Jonny Sharp, 14 Tyler Offiah, 13 Harrison Hall, 12 Cameron Ellis (vc), 11 Theo Williamson, 10 Louie Heard, 9 Connor Peters; 1 Ralph McEachran, 2 George Goodridge, 3 Brandon Vince, 4 Ciaran Brickley, 5 Will Saunders, 6 Kepu Tuipulotu, 7 Reggie Hammick, 8 Fin Worley-Brady (c).

 

Replacements

16 Israel Suleman, 17 Ralph Hawker, 18 Jasper Cockburn-Miller, 19 Louis Brickley, 20 Jack Lee, 21 Noah Cowan, 22 Ben Bysouth, 23 Finlay Wiseman.

 

Best of luck to the under-18s!

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