U18 Development Squad

[Epaminondas Pules]

Forwards

Phil Brantingham - Newcastle Falcons (RGS Newcastle)
Jack Rowntree - Leicester Tigers (Leicester Grammar School)
Drew Thompson - Newcastle Falcons (Gosforth Academy)
John Stewart - Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Archie Vanes - Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
Ethan Caine - Sale Sharks (Kirkham Grammar Schhol)
Fin Baxter - Harlequins (Wellington College)
Robin Hardwick - Leicester Tigers (Rugby School)
Harry Wilkinson - Exeter Chiefs (Exeter College)
Ewan Richards - Bath Rugby (Millfield School)
Charlie Rice - Bristol Bears (SGS Filton)
Freddie Thomas - Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Ewan Murphy - Sale Sharks (Lymm High School)
Arthur Clark - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
Emeka Ilione - Leicester Tigers (Rugby School)
Ethan Staddon - Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Daniel Eckersley - Wasps (Bloxham School)
Harry Taylor - Gloucester Rugby (Clifton College)
Toby Knight - Saracens (Berkhamsted School)
Kit Smith - Leicester Tigers (Oakham School)
Will Trenholm - Harlequins (Cranleigh School)
Ben Muncaster - Leicester Tigers (Rugby School)

Backs

Sam Bryan – Saracens (Felsted School)
Matty Jones - Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Tom Cairns - Exeter Chiefs (Exeter College)
Charlie Atkinson - Wasps (Abingdon School)
Orlando Bailey - Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Finlay Smith - Worcester Warriors (Warwick School)
Chay Mullins - Bristol Bears (SGS Filton)
Brandon Jackson – Saracens (Sutton Valence School)
Oscar Beard - Harlequins (Cranleigh School)
Ethan Grayson - Northampton Saints (Northampton School for Boys)
Louis Hillman-Cooper - Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)
Will Joseph - London Irish (Millfield School)
Joe Bedlow - Sale Sharks (Myerscough College)
Archie Hill - Exeter Chiefs (Exeter College)
Matthew Ward - Newcastle Falcons (Gosforth Academy)
Deago Bailey - Bristol Bears (SGS Filton)
Oliver Melville - Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
Ollie Smith - Leicester Tigers (Denstone College)

[Epaminondas Pules]

Some very promising young players in this lot. Will take the time to give my take on ‘ones to watch’ when I get some time.

[Puja]

Ollie Smith from Leicester! Brings back memories - wonder if he's a relation (not that many Smiths about!).

Puja

[Stom]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

[Mellsblue]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

It’s pretty common to be fair

[Danno]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

There's at least 9hours of movies explaining why

[twitchy]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

Makes a change from the random quiffed hair public school boy name generator that is the usual age grade roster from the same 10 institutions.

Just out of interest for people that live in different parts of the country - which of the places on that list isn't a public school? Just from my own knowledge exeter college isn't.

[fivepointer]

Neither is Filton and Hartpury. Most of the others are I would guess.

A lot of these lads toured SA in August, so there is quite a bit of continuity. I imagine Rowntree and Hardwick are props and have rugby playing dads?

[Which Tyler]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

Makes a change from the random quiffed hair public school boy name generator that is the usual age grade roster from the same 10 institutions.

Just out of interest for people that live in different parts of the country - which of the places on that list isn't a public school? Just from my own knowledge exeter college isn't.

Beechen Cliff is state

[Banquo]

Neither is Filton and Hartpury. Most of the others are I would guess.

A lot of these lads toured SA in August, so there is quite a bit of continuity. I imagine Rowntree and Hardwick are props and have rugby playing dads?

any ideas how many moved from state schools to both the public schools and the academies like Hartpury and Filton?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

Makes a change from the random quiffed hair public school boy name generator that is the usual age grade roster from the same 10 institutions.

Just out of interest for people that live in different parts of the country - which of the places on that list isn't a public school? Just from my own knowledge exeter college isn't.

Exeter College
Lymm High School
Hartpury College
Filton
Beechen Cliff
Gosforth Academy

And I think Northampton school for boys is a state school too.

[Puja]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

Makes a change from the random quiffed hair public school boy name generator that is the usual age grade roster from the same 10 institutions.

Just out of interest for people that live in different parts of the country - which of the places on that list isn't a public school? Just from my own knowledge exeter college isn't.

Beechen Cliff is state

It feels like it shares some of the spirit of public schools though: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-45360464

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Ones to watch:

Fin Baxter - looks a good tighthead. Stood out for Quins alongside Riley in their pack last season despite being U17.
Emeka Ilione - all action backrow, who can fill in at lock. Tigers have massive hopes for him. Really stand out player in the Tigers U18 side for this season.

Orlando Bailey - played U18s last season at both 10 and 12. Looks to have time on the ball and a very good all round skill set.
Louis Hillman-Cooper - lightening! Really rapid. Plays either outside centre or wing. Good hands on him too.
Will Joseph - brother of JJ. Similar player in style and presence on the pitch. Looks classy.
Deago Bailey - was raw as anything a couple of years back, but started to really shape up last year. Quick, hard to put down, good step and makes good decisions. Can play centre, but is a much better wing. Was bowling opposition wingers over for fun last year.

[Mellsblue]

Why is the name Orlando Bailey weirdly familiar?

Makes a change from the random quiffed hair public school boy name generator that is the usual age grade roster from the same 10 institutions.

Just out of interest for people that live in different parts of the country - which of the places on that list isn't a public school? Just from my own knowledge exeter college isn't.

Exeter College
Lymm High School
Hartpury College
Filton
Beechen Cliff
Gosforth Academy

And I think Northampton school for boys is a state school too.

It is, or at least it was when I lived in Northampton twenty years ago.

[Which Tyler]

Orlando Bailey - played U18s last season at both 10 and 12. Looks to have time on the ball and a very good all round skill set.
Deago Bailey - was raw as anything a couple of years back, but started to really shape up last year. Quick, hard to put down, good step and makes good decisions. Can play centre, but is a much better wing. Was bowling opposition wingers over for fun last year.

Related?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Orlando Bailey - played U18s last season at both 10 and 12. Looks to have time on the ball and a very good all round skill set.
Deago Bailey - was raw as anything a couple of years back, but started to really shape up last year. Quick, hard to put down, good step and makes good decisions. Can play centre, but is a much better wing. Was bowling opposition wingers over for fun last year.

Related?

I don’t believe so Which. Will check though.

[TheNomad]

They look completely different

[Mellsblue]

That doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t related. Exhibit A:

[jimKRFC]

Nice finish by Deago Bailey in the academy game vs Bath: