England U18 Development Camp

[Epaminondas Pules]

Split into North and South camps later this month and early next, before an overall U18 camp.There was no Autumn tour to SA this year obviously, so this represents the start of the England U18 season.

Two very good looking squads, with some real potential to look out for and to be fair a few players who can consider themselves unlucky not to make it......this time.

Back three looks very dangerous whichever way you select it. Cleaves is absolutely nailed on for one wing slot. A group of seriously talented fly halfs. Benson is arguably the pick of them, even making the 2019/20 schools dream team ahead of Fin Smith, which is some achievement! That said I'm really looking forward to seeing Sedbergh halfback combination Johnson and Naylor take their school understanding up a level.

Mark Dormer looks like another outstanding prop coming through the RGS production line, following Phil Brantingham, who left school in the summer. Like a couple of others Dormer can play either side. Often played tighthead as Brantingham had the 1 shirt nailed, but I'd say Dormer is a better loosehead than tight.

Olly Tomalin is a beast of an 8, or lock (ooh this is the Itoje at 8 come to life!) Had a fabulous season in 2019, and again made the Dream team ahead of some serious older players like Jack Forsythe. Guy Pepper had a similarly stellar season on the openside flank. He and Kofi Cripps are two very good 7s.

Saracens have pulled another outstanding lock out in Nkwocha. It is kind of getting silly now.

England U18 Development Camp Squad – NORTH

Matt Arden (Stamford & Northampton Saints) CENTRE
Emeka Atuanya (Nothampton School for Boys & Northampton Saints) ** LOCK
Lewis Chessum (Brooksby Melton College & Leicester Tigers) LOCK
Kofi Cripps (Rugby & Wasps) ** OPENSIDE FLANKER
Jacob Cusick (Oakham & Leicester Tigers) CENTRE
Ollie Dawkins (RGS High Wycombe & Wasps) ** CENTRE / WING / FULLBACK
Mark Dormer (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons) ** LOOSEHEAD PROP
Greg Fisilau (City of Oxford College & Wasps) ** BLINDSIDE FLANKER / No8
Ewan Greenlaw (Durham & Newcastle Falcons) ** CENTRE
Ned Hawker (Woodhouse Grove & Yorkshire) ** LOOSEHEAD PROP
Tim Hoyt (Brooksby Melton College & Leicester Tigers) TIGHTHEAD PROP
Geordie Irvine (Oundle & Northampton Saints) ** No8
Louie Johnson (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons) FLYHALF
Henry Joule (Oakham and Leicester Tigers) ** CENTRE / FULLBACK
James Naylor (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons) SCRUM HALF
Guy Pepper (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons) ** OPENSIDE FLANKER
Seb Smith (Stamford & Leicester Tigers) ** LOOSEHEAD PROP
Ollie Spencer (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons) CENTRE / WING
Jake Sterland (Brooksby Melton College & Leicester Tigers) ** CENTRE / WING
Nye Thomas (Liverpool College & Sale Sharks) ** SCRUM HALF
Olly Tomalin (St Peter’s York & Yorkshire) ** LOCK / No8
Tobi Wilson (Stourport High School and Worcester Warriors) ** WING


England U18 Development Camp Squad – SOUTH

Henry Arundell (Harrow & London Irish) ** WING
Jamie Benson (Hampton & Harlequins) * FLYHALF
Monty Bradbury (Wellington College & London Irish) ** FLYHALF
Cassius Cleaves (Wellington College & Harlequins) * WING
Tobias Elliott (Watford Grammar & Saracens) ** FULLBACK
Aaron Florestein (Merchant Taylors’ & Wasps) ** BACKROW...........and CENTRE!
Jake Garside (Norwich & Northampton Saints) SCRUM HALF
Kian Gentry (Exeter College & Exeter Chiefs) ** WING
Ben Grubb (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs) * No8
Zack Hill (Oaklands College & Saracens) ** TIGHTHEAD PROP
Will Hobson (Wellington College & Harlequins) LOOSEHEAD PROP
Nathan Jibulu (Seaford College & Harlequins) ** HOOKER
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Harrow & Wasps) ** CENTRE
Tom Miles (King Henry VIII Coventry & Worcester Warriors) ** SCRUM HALF
Rob Nixon (Sir Thomas Rich & Gloucester) No8
Obinna Nkwocha (Felsted & Saracens) * LOCK
Kaden Pearce-Paul (Ravens Wood & Saracens) ** LOCK
Dylan Power (Colstons & Bristol Bears) CENTRE
Connor Slevin (Whitgift & Harlequins) ** FULLBACK
Jasper Spandler (Beechen Cliff & Bath) HOOKER
Mikey Summerfield (Hartpury College & London Irish) ** LOOSEHEAD PROP
George Taylor (Bristol Grammer & Bristol Bears) LOCK

*= U18 Squad in Feb 2020
**= U17 Dev Camp Feb 2020

[Epaminondas Pules]

If I had to pick a XV from that I'd arguably go with this. There's a few absolute arguments to be had in some positions. That backrow is frightening! In fact the whole pack is.

1. Mark Dormer
2. Nathan Jibulu
3. Zack Hill
4. Emeka Atuanya
5. Obinna Nkwocha
6. Greg Fisilau
7. Guy Pepper
8. Olly Tomalin
9. James Naylor
10. Louie Johnson
11. Jake Sterland
12. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White
13. Ollie Dawkins
14. Cassius Cleaves
15. Connor Slevin

[Epaminondas Pules]

See if I can find some highlights to bring this to life a little.

Louie Johnson:

[Epaminondas Pules]

Cassius Cleaves

[Epaminondas Pules]

Nathan Jibulu

[Raggs]

Some of those younger age grade videos have some really contrasting players, some look like men, some still very much boys.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Some of those younger age grade videos have some really contrasting players, some look like men, some still very much boys.

Yep. The stark contrast really comes through from about U14 through U16s and then starts to even out at U18, though even then you do see some real contrasts, albeit less.

[twitchy]

Some of those younger age grade videos have some really contrasting players, some look like men, some still very much boys.

I played with/against Ayoola Erinle at age grade and while people mock him on here it was hilarious/scary watching him playing vs mere mortals.

[16th man]

Wonder if a lad called Nye who attends Liverpool College is going to stand out a bit.

[Tigersman]

Pleased with the Tigers selections.
Especially the two props Smith and Hoyt

Philippe Tandoh prob a little unlucky unless injured.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Pleased with the Tigers selections.
Especially the two props Smith and Hoyt

Philippe Tandoh prob a little unlucky unless injured.

It is a very competitive across the backrow. Tandoh looked very good, and actually not making this squad is no shame.

[Timbo]

Some of those younger age grade videos have some really contrasting players, some look like men, some still very much boys.

I played with/against Ayoola Erinle at age grade and while people mock him on here it was hilarious/scary watching him playing vs mere mortals.

By contrast there were 2 players who I played with at school 1st XV level, both went on to play professionally (mainly Championship, but a little Prem too), who were not really standouts at all. One was a second row who shot up dramatically at about 17 and the other changed from the backrow to 12 and was suddenly a lot more effective. It’s so hard to predict at that age.

[FKAS]

Some of those younger age grade videos have some really contrasting players, some look like men, some still very much boys.

I played with/against Ayoola Erinle at age grade and while people mock him on here it was hilarious/scary watching him playing vs mere mortals.

By contrast there were 2 players who I played with at school 1st XV level, both went on to play professionally (mainly Championship, but a little Prem too), who were not really standouts at all. One was a second row who shot up dramatically at about 17 and the other changed from the backrow to 12 and was suddenly a lot more effective. It’s so hard to predict at that age.

I don't think you can know who's going to make it until that 16 to 18 period when puberty starts to finish and everyone's growth settles down. I played rugby with a guy who played 8 for England Schools and who was a fullback in the Tigers academy he didn't make it because he was physically a monster at an early age and had pace to burn, 6ft4 and 16 stone is quite a bit for a fullback. Didn't develop the skillset needed for the higher levels because he never needed to, ended up playing amateur rugby where I've seen him score several hattricks from kick returns over the years. So many of the big guys don't pick up the skills required and the smaller guys who do you have to wait to grow.

Is Chessum the Tigers lock the younger brother of Ollie Chessum the development player who's just come back from Notts and made his debut recently? Good to see the Tigers production line of props is still going. Fingers crossed we can get one of those centres to the first team as well.

[Tigersman]

Is Chessum the Tigers lock the younger brother of Ollie Chessum the development player who's just come back from Notts and made his debut recently? Good to see the Tigers production line of props is still going. Fingers crossed we can get one of those centres to the first team as well.

He is also apparently taller.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I played with/against Ayoola Erinle at age grade and while people mock him on here it was hilarious/scary watching him playing vs mere mortals.

By contrast there were 2 players who I played with at school 1st XV level, both went on to play professionally (mainly Championship, but a little Prem too), who were not really standouts at all. One was a second row who shot up dramatically at about 17 and the other changed from the backrow to 12 and was suddenly a lot more effective. It’s so hard to predict at that age.

I don't think you can know who's going to make it until that 16 to 18 period when puberty starts to finish and everyone's growth settles down. I played rugby with a guy who played 8 for England Schools and who was a fullback in the Tigers academy he didn't make it because he was physically a monster at an early age and had pace to burn, 6ft4 and 16 stone is quite a bit for a fullback. Didn't develop the skillset needed for the higher levels because he never needed to, ended up playing amateur rugby where I've seen him score several hattricks from kick returns over the years. So many of the big guys don't pick up the skills required and the smaller guys who do you have to wait to grow.

Is Chessum the Tigers lock the younger brother of Ollie Chessum the development player who's just come back from Notts and made his debut recently? Good to see the Tigers production line of props is still going. Fingers crossed we can get one of those centres to the first team as well.

He is indeed Chessum the younger.

From the centres perspective I'm still really surprised we let Ronnie Du Randt go and last year and then Ollie Smith this. I know Ollie could play several positions.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Guy Pepper highlights.

[morepork]

Do they all go to Hogwarts, or what?

[Puja]

Guy Pepper highlights.

I have to say that that is the least sh*t highlights video I've seen for a schoolboys player. The music isn't obnoxious and whoever has done the editing has made it very clear which player we're supposed to be paying attention to and highlighted the actions we're meant to be impressed by.

Puja

[FKAS]

Is Chessum the Tigers lock the younger brother of Ollie Chessum the development player who's just come back from Notts and made his debut recently? Good to see the Tigers production line of props is still going. Fingers crossed we can get one of those centres to the first team as well.

He is also apparently taller.

Taller, does he moonlight as a lamp post? Sheesh his older brother isn't exactly small is he. Is Chessum the younger a beam pole or is he a monster?

From the centres perspective I'm still really surprised we let Ronnie Du Randt go and last year and then Ollie Smith this. I know Ollie could play several positions.

I was surprised that both were let go and not given the chance. Ollie Smith V2 in particular as he seemed equally comfortable at 13 and 15 as well as kicking for goal. That's the kind of useful skillset we could have used and indeed tried to sign with Viljoen. Smith seemed to be a significant element in his academy team as well.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Is Chessum the Tigers lock the younger brother of Ollie Chessum the development player who's just come back from Notts and made his debut recently? Good to see the Tigers production line of props is still going. Fingers crossed we can get one of those centres to the first team as well.

He is also apparently taller.

Taller, does he moonlight as a lamp post? Sheesh his older brother isn't exactly small is he. Is Chessum the younger a beam pole or is he a monster?

From the centres perspective I'm still really surprised we let Ronnie Du Randt go and last year and then Ollie Smith this. I know Ollie could play several positions.

I was surprised that both were let go and not given the chance. Ollie Smith V2 in particular as he seemed equally comfortable at 13 and 15 as well as kicking for goal. That's the kind of useful skillset we could have used and indeed tried to sign with Viljoen. Smith seemed to be a significant element in his academy team as well.

Absolutely. Du Randt was more of a glue player that helped others shine, whilst Smith looked a very rounded and versatile player. Both very disappointing to let do, but I suppose we can only take on so many, but both are problem positions.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Next Dev camp squads:
U18 Development Camp – North Squad (Tuesday 27th October, York)

Matt Arden (Northampton Saints & Stamford)*
Emeka Atunya (Northampton Saints & Northampton School for Boys)*
Cormac Calnan (Leicester Tigers & Stamford)
Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers & Oakham)*
Mark Dormer (Newcastle Falcons & RGS Newcastle)*
Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons & Gosforth Academy)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle Falcons & Newcastle School for Boys)
Ewan Greenlaw (Newcastle Falcons & Durham)*
Ned Hawker (Yorkshire & Woodhouse Grove)*
Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers & Brooksby Melton College)*
Geordie Irvine (Northampton Saints & Oundle)*
Henry Joule (Leicester Tigers & Oakham)*
George Loose (Leicester Tigers & Langley)
James Naylor (Newcastle Falcons & Sedbergh)*
Sonny Rodella (Northampton Saints & Bedford)
Frankie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints & Northampton School for Boys)
Oli Spencer (Newcastle Falcons & Sedbergh)*
Olly Tomalin (Yorkshire & St Peter’s, York)*
Charlie Wardie (Sale Sharks & Altrincham Grammar)
Joe Woodward (Leicester Tigers & Brooksby Melton College)


U18 Development Camp – South Squad (Monday 26th October, Bristol)

Morgan Adderly-Jones (Gloucester & Hartpury College)
Fyn Brown (Wasps & Shiplake College)
Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins & Wellington College)*
Ollie Dawkins (Wasps & RGS High Wycombe)*
Josh Dingley (Bath & Marlborough College)
Ciaran Donoghue (Bath & Millfield)
Tobias Elliott (Saracens & Berkhamsted)*
Kian Gentry (Exeter Chiefs & Exeter College)*
Ben Grubb (Exeter Chiefs & Truro College)*
Sam Harris (Bath & Millfield)
Jesper Hartikainen (London Irish & Hampton)
Tom Lynagh (Harlequins & Epsom College)
Tom Miles (Worcester Warriors & King Henry VIII, Coventry)*
Rob Nixon (Gloucester & Sir Thomas Rich’s)*
Obinna Nkwocha (Saracens & Felsted)*
Ehimen Osebor (Saracens & Haileybury)
Epi Rokodrava (Wasps & City of Oxford College)
Jai Thompson (Bath & Sherborne)
JJ Williams (Bristol Bears & Colston’s)
Bailey Williams (Exeter Chiefs & Truro College)

*Part of the camps in September/early October camps.

Additional squad for two day camp:
England U18 Development Camp Squad – Bisham Abbey, 28th and 29th October

Henry Arundell (London Irish & Harrow)*
Alfie Bell (Wasps & King Henry VIII, Coventry)
Jamie Benson (Harlequins & Hampton)*
Monty Bradbury (London Irish & Wellington College)*
Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers & Brooksby Melton College)*
Greg Fisilau (Wasps & City of Oxford College)*
Aaron Florestein (Wasps & Merchant Taylors’, Northwood)*
Jake Garside (Northampton Saints & Norwich)*
Zack Hill (Saracens & Oaklands College)*
Will Hobson (Harlequins & Wellington College)*
Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins & Seaford College)*
Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons & Sedbergh)*
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Wasps & Harrow)*
Kaden Pearce-Paul (Saracens & Ravens Wood)*
Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons & Barnard Castle)*
Dylan Power (Bristol Bears & Colston’s)*
Connor Slevin (Harlequins & Whitgift)*
Seb Smith (Leicester Tigers & Stamford)*
Jasper Spandler (Bath & Beechen Cliff)*
Jake Sterland (Leicester Tigers & Brooksby Melton College)*
Mikey Summerfield (London Irish & Hartpury College)*
George Taylor (Bristol Bears & Bristol Grammar)*
Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks & Liverpool College)*
Tobi Wilson (Worcester Warriors & Stourport High)*

*Part of the late September/early October England U18 Development camps

[FKAS]

Let's play family connections.

Had to double check that Joe Woodward isn't Sir Clive's son (he's not though he does have a son called Joe).

Is that another Sleightholme from the family?

Henry Joule might be the best dressed of the bunch.

Is that the same Lynagh that has already played for Quins or a younger brother? Wonder how their dad feels about them pulling on the red rose.

[Scrumhead]

That’s the younger brother. Louis is the one who made his debut against Tigers.

I believe, they’re also eligible for Italy as well as Australia (obviously) and my understanding is that Michael would prefer Italy to England. Let’s wait and see if they’re good enough to justify fighting for them.