Saracens pair named in England squad

TWO players from Oaklands College have been named in the England U18 for the forthcoming tour to Australia where they will play three matches against southern hemisphere opposition.

Tom Jubb and Max Crumpton will join the squad as England’s youngsters take on an U19 New South Wales Academy team on August 21, before facing Australian A Schools on August 24. Their final match will be a full Test match against Australian Schools on August 28.

The highly successful U18 summer tours have occurred annually since 2007 and the squad have visited Australia, Argentina and South Africa twice in the past four years. Of the 2007 crop, both Courtney Lawes and Charlie Sharples have moved on to claim senior Test caps, while Calum Clark, Henry Trinder, Carl Fearns, Joe Marler and Rory Clegg have all represented the Saxons.

England U18 last played Australia in 2009 at Sale’s Heywood Road, winning 30-28 in dramatic fashion as Sale Shark’s Tommy Bell scored a clinching try five minutes from time.

Head coach John Fletcher has said that he is happy with the players at his disposal this time around, and includes several players who represented their clubs throughout the recent J.P Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series, such as Mark Jennings, Jack Clifford and Antony Watson.

“We’re happy with the squad that are coming out with us,” Fletcher said. “Three or four guys have been unfortunate to pick up injuries and will miss out – but that’s all part of our sport and the guys that are coming in will relish the opportunity, I’m sure.

“We’re there for two weeks and will play three games. The first one is just five days after we arrive so it’s important for the lads to acclimatise. We’ll meet up at Twickenham and go straight to bed in the afternoon and wake up at midnight ready to train at 1am to prepare ourselves.”

With 26-players in his squad, Fletcher says that each member of the group will get game time to continue their rugby development.

He said: “Everybody will get a start. Everybody will get the same opportunities because at this age that’s what it’s all about. We’ve got two tough games before the Test match against Australia. We’re expecting three tough games – Australian youth rugby is strong, but our guys will be looking to do well.”

England U18 squad for tour of Australia

Forwards

Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry’s Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)

Joe Buckle (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)

Jack Clifford (RGS Guildford & Harlequins)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Rugby)

Matt Hankin (Haileybury College & Saracens)

George Sandford (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)

Danny Herriott (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)

Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens)

Max Crumpton (Oaklands College & Saracens)

Tom Price (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth 1st & Leicester Tigers)

Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins)

David Sisi (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)

Tom Smallbone (Harrow & London Irish)

Scott Spurling (Harrow & Saracens)

Backs

Jack Arnott (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)

Alex Day (St Joseph’s College & Northampton Saints)

Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)

Will Robinson (Twyford College & London Wasps)

Mark Jennings (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks)

Sam Jones (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)

James Lightfoot-Brown (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)

Jack Nowell (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)

Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs)

Tom Stephenson (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)

Anthony Watson (St George’s College & London Irish)

Marcus Webber (Manchester Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)