Premiership U18 league

[Epaminondas Pules]

Starts this weekend:

Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Fixtures:

Round 1

North

Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers – Friday 17th Dec, 7pm, Bedford Athletic

Worcester Warriors v Sale Sharks – Saturday 18th Dec, 2.30pm, RGS Worcester

Yorkshire Academy v Wasps – Saturday 18th Dec, 2pm, Bishop Burton College

Newcastle Falcons – Bye

South

Bath v Bristol Bears – Friday 17th Dec, 7.30pm, Chippenham RFC

Exeter Chiefs v Saracens – Saturday 18th Dec, 11.30am, Truro College

London Irish v Gloucester – Saturday 18th Dec, 12pm, Hazelwood

Harlequins – Bye

Team News:

North

Northampton Saints

15 Jody Devine (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 14 Ethan Thorne (St Joseph’s College), 13 Toby Cousins (Oakham), 12 Archie Kean (Royal Hospital School), 11 Frankie Sleightholme (Northampton School for Boys), 10 Ewan Baker (Stowe), 9 Archie McParland (Stowe), 1 Sam Ferrari (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 2 Craig Wright (Felsted), 3 Nicholas Tarr (Mark Rutherford School), 4 James Bennett (Bedford), 5 Carn Richards-Farr (Birchwood High), 6 George Lavendar (Colchester RGS), 7 Ted Reid (Colchester RGS), 8 George Patten (Northampton School for Boys).

Replacements: 16 Yuijan Zou (The Perse), 17 Callum Smyth (Bedford), 18 Dave Bennett (Rugby), 19 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 20 Levi Wilson (St Joseph’s College), 21 Harry Hall (Ipswich), 22 Toby Thame (Wesley College), 23 Sonny Rodella (Northampton School for Boys).

Leicester Tigers

15 Max Fairlie (King’s Grantham), 14 Ben Moore (Brooksby Melton College), 13 George Loose (Gresham’s), 12 Joseph Woodward (Brooksby Melton College, captain), 11 Samuel Jacques (Brooksby Melton College), 10 Morgan Meredith (Brooksby Melton College), 9 Fergus Makepeace (Uppingham), 1 Jack Hurst (Brooksby Melton College), 2 Charlie Barraclough (Denstone College), 3 Nathan Hind (Brooksby Melton College), 4 Callum Richardson (Gresham’s), 5 Finn Carnduff (Leicester Grammar), 6 Joshua Manz (Northampton School for Boys), 7 Oliver Arnold (Uppingham), 8 Simon Koroiyadi (Trent College).

Replacements: 16 Max Nolan (Brooksby Melton College), 17 Tom Wand (Brooksby Melton College), 18 Oliver Crane (Oakham), 19 Dan Ormerod (Oakham), 20 Chester Owen (Brooksby Melton College), 21 Oscar McCarthy (Leicester Grammar), 22 Ben Taylor (Oakham), 23 Oscar van Deventer (Denstone College).

Worcester Warriors

15 Matt Smith, 14 Ollie Smith, 13 Will Pugh, 12 Archie Jones, 11 Alex Wills, 10 Dan Chambers, 9 Alex Terry, 1 Lewys Walsh, 2 Ethan Allen, 3 Will Couch, 4 George Boyle, 5 Harvey Cuckson, 6 Will Owen, 7 Woody Facey, 8 Theo Mayell (c).

Replacements: 16 Loic Keasey, 17 Allis Locke, 18 Arron Hackett, 19 Sam Hawes, 20 Owen Boxall, 21 Billy McDonough, 22 Jack Condliffe, 23 Jacob Clark.

Sale Sharks

15 Leo Zheng, 14 Ben Verbickas, 13 Aaron Pope, 12 Ben Motamed, 11 Owain Williams, 10 Charlie Wardle, 9 Will Wootton, 1 Jack Ellam, 2 Harry Thompson, 3 Theo Bishop, 4 Oscar Walsh, 5 Ellis Causey, 6 Yande Nkonge, 7 Tristan Woodman, 8 Huw Davies (c).

Replacements: 16 Charlie Bancroft, 17 Gareth Parry, 18 Petreece Bell, 19 Frank Chatterton, 20 Patrick Jones, 22 Fin Rogers, 23 Alex Whitfield.

Yorkshire Academy

15 F Yates, 14 G Worthington, 13 B Horberry, 12 D Talakai, 11 O Aston, 10 B Turpin, 9 J Harris (c), 1 P Parker, 2 L Inman, 3 H Derbyshire, 4 T Burrow, 5 H Mathew, 6 H du Boulay, 7 J Briggs, 8 G Heptinstall.

Replacements: 16 H Hussain, 17 T Raymont, 18 T Peach, 19 J Billington, 20 J Freeman, 21 B Parkin, 22 G Chaffer.

Wasps

15 B Kucera, 14 E Rokodrava, 13 S Sinclair, 12 W Evans, 11 W Glister, 10 J Annand, 9 M Winterburn, 1 C Aitchison, 2 K Jones, 3 A Opoku-Fordjour, 4 M Hornby (c), 5 C Bell, 6 R Logan, 7 G Ward, 8 B Pogson.

Replacements: 16 E Adablah, 17 A O’Driscoll, 18 J Farmer, 19 W Blakesley-Grimes, 20 B McDermott, 21 L Casilio, 22 C Myall, 23 D Barnett.

South

Bath

15 Byron Lloyd-Gilmour (Marlborough College), 14 Mckenzi Rawlings (Beechen Cliff), 13 Will Parry (Sherborne), 12 Sam Harris (Millfield, vc), 11 Max Ashton (Beechen Cliff), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield), 1 Eric Nixon-Castillo (Millfield), 2 Max Pearce (Millfield), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff), 4 Eddie Erskine (Millfield), 5 Will Jeanes (Beechen Cliff), 6 Max Jenkins (Millfield), 7 Archie McKibbin (Millfield), 8 Arthur Green (Sherborne, captain).

Replacements: 16 Tommy McLean (Beechen Cliff), 17 Tom Hill (Wells Cathedral), 18 Ellis Baker Millfield), 19 George Timmins (Millfield), 20 Kacey Pike (Beechen Cliff), 21 Sam Curwen (Millfield), 22 Harry Carson (Millfield), 23 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff).

Bristol Bears

15 Sami Hamid, 14 Gabe Lacey, 13 Tom Stolliday, 12 Lucas Berti, 11 Jamie Wood, 10 Henry Hawkins, 9 Rhus Price, 1 Louis Trevett, 2 James Randall, 3 Billy Moran, 4 Ollie Thraves, 5 Paddy Pearce, 6 Aaron Tull (c), 7 Charlie Cox, 8 Ed Harvey.

Replacements: 16 George Davey, 17 Louis White, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Ted Harrison, 20 Archie Prewett, 21 Pete Carter, 22 Tom Ormsby, 23 Isaac Cambell-Wu.

Exeter Chiefs

15 Charlie Groves, 14 Jayden Pitcher-Oakes, 13 Jack Statton, 12 Jeremy Tuima, 11 Dan Hamilton-Strong, 10 Matt Smale, 9 Joe Walker, 1 Joe Thomson, 2 Pete Harris, 3 Tom Gulley, 4 Joe Clarke, 5 Joe Bailey (c), 6 Ed Spurway, 7 Seth Findley, 8 Jago Sheppard.

Replacements: 16 Jack Ballett, 17 Rowan Lawrence, 18 Archie Rolls, 19 Barnaby Elderkin, 20 Ben Hobbs, 21 Max Fergusson, 22 George Edson, 23 Louie Drennan.

Saracens

TBC

London Irish

15 Cubbit-Makepeace (Henley College), 14 Williamson (Bishop Wand), 13 Daniel (Mill Hill), 12 Enright (Bishop Wand), 11 Rockley (Bishop Wand), 10 Taylor (Wellington College), 9 Allan (Bishop Wand), 1 Murphy (Hinchley Wood), 2 Day (Epsom College), 3 Fasogbon (Bishop Wand), 4 Stirling (Harrow), 5 Worley-Brady (Bishop Wand), 6 Allan (Bishop Wand), 7 Kikrham (Bishop Wand, captain), 8 Bird (Epsom College).

Replacements: 16 Baird (Cranleigh), 17 Akpos (Henley College), 18 Reeves-Hall (Bishop Wand), 19 Lee (Millfield), 20 Grantham (Bishop Wand), 21 Salisbury (Bishop Wand), 22 Valentine (Henley College).

Gloucester

15 Will Gilderson, 14 Nathan Thomson-Lee, 13 Ty Lewis, 12 Tom Samak, 11 Archie Hossack, 10 Keillen Cullen, 9 Joe Adams, 1 Will Hurn, 2 George Merritt (c), 3 Henry Pearson, 4 Rhys Ford, 5 Mikey Nixon, 6 Freddie Stevens, 7 Casey Williams, 8 Tom Worts.

Replacements: 16 Tom Cabot, 17 Fred Ma’a, 18 Sam Anson, 19 Jack Hall, 20 Stan Folks-Underhill, 21 Ben Peters.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Picking one from each side to look out for:

Sleightholme for Saints and Woodward for Tigers. They’re two very talented sides, but these two are just a level above everyone else.

Harris for Yorkshire is a very lively scrum half, and although Hornby is probably the standout in the Wasps side I’d watch Logan who is a winger or flanker. He’s proper fun to watch.

Mayall vs Davies in the back row of the Wuss v Sales fame should be epic! Sale look a very good side. Pope is a very classy outside centre in the Sale ranks.

Bath and Bristol look very strong this year, Bath especially. It’s tough to pick just one, but I’d go for Sam Harris at inside centre. Parry is another to watch for, he’s a proper talent. Tull is my pick for Bris. One of a number of outstanding blindsides coming through.

Exeter have a good looking side. Charlie Groves and Tuima will be very hard to contain.

For Irish it’s really hard to choose. They arguably have the best pack and in Stirling they’ve an excellent second row, but I’d plump for Talylor in the backline. Glaws wise I’d go with their captain Merritt. A proper hooker

[Which Tyler]

I Can't comment on anything that happened in the match, but the least important part is
Bath 12 : 27 Bears

[Epaminondas Pules]

I Can't comment on anything that happened in the match, but the least important part is
Bath 12 : 27 Bears

That’s a really surprising result. You’ve got a really good squad this year. I’d say one of the standouts.


Tigers lost to Saints 35 v 22.

[Scrumhead]

Picking one from each side to look out for:

Sleightholme for Saints and Woodward for Tigers. They’re two very talented sides, but these two are just a level above everyone else.

Harris for Yorkshire is a very lively scrum half, and although Hornby is probably the standout in the Wasps side I’d watch Logan who is a winger or flanker. He’s proper fun to watch.

Mayall vs Davies in the back row of the Wuss v Sales fame should be epic! Sale look a very good side. Pope is a very classy outside centre in the Sale ranks.

Bath and Bristol look very strong this year, Bath especially. It’s tough to pick just one, but I’d go for Sam Harris at inside centre. Parry is another to watch for, he’s a proper talent. Tull is my pick for Bris. One of a number of outstanding blindsides coming through.

Exeter have a good looking side. Charlie Groves and Tuima will be very hard to contain.

For Irish it’s really hard to choose. They arguably have the best pack and in Stirling they’ve an excellent second row, but I’d plump for Talylor in the backline. Glaws wise I’d go with their captain Merritt. A proper hooker

I see Woodward and Harris are both 12s. It would be excellent to have a few more natural inside centres emerging. For whatever reason, we just don’t seem to produce many good ones!

[Which Tyler]

That’s a really surprising result. You’ve got a really good squad this year. I’d say one of the standouts.

You'd have to wonder how well coached we are - with the academy coaches doubling up with the seniors, there may well be a scramble of coaching crews further on down - though with the U18s playing, and the rest of the academy not; that shouldn't be too bad - not to mention pretty much everyone playing together for one of 2 schools, so they should be pretty familiar with each other.

Ultimately, from my perspective, individual results aren't the important bit at this level (nice though it would be) - it's development of units, individuals, and playing styles - get that right, and results should come (not that I can comment on it). At this level, results are more important for confidence / self-belief.

All that said, I would really have expected something much closer than that.


ETA: https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/ ... ears-u18s/
Also from someone who was there - Bristol just beat us up, up front - mauling us back with every lineout.
From the video in that report, Bath hookers looks entirely disinterested at that lineout & maul
You're not a spectator Max

[FKAS]

I Can't comment on anything that happened in the match, but the least important part is
Bath 12 : 27 Bears

That’s a really surprising result. You’ve got a really good squad this year. I’d say one of the standouts.


Tigers lost to Saints 35 v 22.

From what I've heard there's some decent talent in the Tigers squad but overall it's not a vintage year of the sort we've seen in recent years. Carduff in the row and Woodward at 12 (but who can also play 10 and 15) are the two to watch apparently.

[Tigersman]

It’s actually quite a good year for Tigers imo.

Thing people have got to remember really with this group is these are some of the first lot that have been really affected by the covid stuff.

So I expect a lot of interesting results etc.

But reality U18 will be judged on how many step up not the result end of season.

[FKAS]

It’s actually quite a good year for Tigers imo.

Thing people have got to remember really with this group is these are some of the first lot that have been really affected by the covid stuff.

So I expect a lot of interesting results etc.

But reality U18 will be judged on how many step up not the result end of season.

Very true on both the Covid and the how many step up points.

I also suspect that a number of fans, like me, who only catch bits and bobs of the academy scene will tend to compare each year to the somewhat golden years of a few back when we did two season undefeated and pushed several quality youngsters into first team reckoning.

[Tigersman]

It's not really as many as people make out from those U18 teams so far
Steward, Martin and JVP have really broken into it
Whitcombe is close

Which is prob about average for most teams in league, it just so happens that those 3 players are genuinely top class.

You also got to factor that size plays quite a big role at U18 still, Tigers during that time had a pretty big team Browning and Steward were bigger than most teams locks for example, we got some big lads but from what I gather outside of Owen the blindside the forwards are quite skilful (and a few tall) but have some filling out to do which will come which isn't a worry.

[Puja]

It's not really as many as people make out from those U18 teams so far
Steward, Martin and JVP have really broken into it
Whitcombe is close

Which is prob about average for most teams in league, it just so happens that those 3 players are genuinely top class.

You also got to factor that size plays quite a big role at U18 still, Tigers during that time had a pretty big team Browning and Steward were bigger than most teams locks for example, we got some big lads but from what I gather outside of Owen the blindside the forwards are quite skilful (and a few tall) but have some filling out to do which will come which isn't a worry.

Isn't Chessum from those years as well?

Puja

[Tigersman]

It's not really as many as people make out from those U18 teams so far
Steward, Martin and JVP have really broken into it
Whitcombe is close

Which is prob about average for most teams in league, it just so happens that those 3 players are genuinely top class.

You also got to factor that size plays quite a big role at U18 still, Tigers during that time had a pretty big team Browning and Steward were bigger than most teams locks for example, we got some big lads but from what I gather outside of Owen the blindside the forwards are quite skilful (and a few tall) but have some filling out to do which will come which isn't a worry.

Isn't Chessum from those years as well?

Puja

Sort of.
I don't believe he made the actual U18 squads though, I don't remember seeing his name in the squads at least.

[FKAS]

Chessum played junior academy but then trained with the academy but was released to play club and county games as opposed to academy ones. Tigers encouraged Notts to take him on and then brought him back when he started flourishing and made the under 20s squad.

Manz has been injured but otherwise I suspect he'd have played in the PRC games.

Vanes played in the PRC games.

Gough and Lavin looked like they would have played a bit but for horrendous injuries. Gough not rugby related.

Smith played and actually captained the first team once before he left recently.

Edwards made his debut in the PRC.

Costelow played a couple of times for the first team before returning to Wales.

The outside centre from the first season of undefeated plays over in France and the IC du Rant is with Nottingham now if I remember rightly.

[Tigersman]

PRC is not first team though.

[FKAS]

Well technically it is. I mean no one considers it that way but there's a trophy to win at the end.

If you mean Smith captaining, he captained a mid week Prem game after the restart. Playing for Doncaster now and getting good reviews. He fell out of reckoning with Borthwick very quickly.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I Can't comment on anything that happened in the match, but the least important part is
Bath 12 : 27 Bears

That’s a really surprising result. You’ve got a really good squad this year. I’d say one of the standouts.


Tigers lost to Saints 35 v 22.

From what I've heard there's some decent talent in the Tigers squad but overall it's not a vintage year of the sort we've seen in recent years. Carduff in the row and Woodward at 12 (but who can also play 10 and 15) are the two to watch apparently.

Woodward does look good.

I also like Jack Hurst who only converted to prop in 6th form, having been a centre and number 8 before that. He’s really talented, but the key is if he can make the transition.

[FKAS]

From the highlights I've seen Woodward seems to have that swagger about him and time on the ball. Doesn't look small either. Could be a very interesting and well rounded option from an academy that tends to struggle to produce centres in recent years.

Is Hurst first or second year academy? If he's first year then he's got time to learn his trade and should be in a good environment given the Tigers scrum coach works with the academy and development squads. We do seem to have a few props in the development squad that look promising already just need one to kick on into the first team every year or two.

[Tigersman]

Hurst is second year I believe.
Still has time to learn can see him going to Loughborough.

Mind you also have the hooker Barraclough who seems pretty well rated and he's a centre who converted to hooker also. Prob not best for the U18 scrum so much having 2 of your 3 front rowers as newly converted but now is the time to change I guess.
Genge changed at a similar time I believe.


On Woodward he's been training with the first team quite a bit so obviously well liked.

[FKAS]

Well if they think Woodward has potential to step up quickly then that would be of substantial benefit to the club considering we are likely to have to make cuts because of the cap and have three centres out of contract this summer. Just able to play the PRC games and bench during the international periods if we're a bit short that would do. Lancaster, Woodward, Cusick could work nicely.

We've seen a few props go into the development squad and then play on loan at Loughborough and Notts I suspect that will only continue. Makes sense for some of the development lads to get a degree under their belt at the same time. Seb Smith and Rowntree have been playing there this season and so has Hoyt though he had a few games at Notts as well. Loughborough playing both BUCS and National League level rugby does mean there's plenty of good quality games

[fivepointer]

Other results -
Exeter 12 Saracens 46
London Irish 41 Glos 17
Worcester 13 Sale 40
Yorks 0 Wasps 36

[Epaminondas Pules]

Hurst is second year I believe.
Still has time to learn can see him going to Loughborough.

Mind you also have the hooker Barraclough who seems pretty well rated and he's a centre who converted to hooker also. Prob not best for the U18 scrum so much having 2 of your 3 front rowers as newly converted but now is the time to change I guess.
Genge changed at a similar time I believe.


On Woodward he's been training with the first team quite a bit so obviously well liked.

Yeah he’s in second year. He was part of an all conquering Lichfield age group that included Woodward and a few others who were / are in the Tigers academy, like Oscar van Deventer, and Owen Boxall who is now at Wuss.

Woodward regularly used to come and play touch down at Lichfield and always looked so easy on the ball like he had more time than anyone else even in touch.

[Tigersman]

See Chester Owen was training with the seniors this week (Pretty sure it was him) starting 8 this weekend.

Wonder if training with the seniors whilst more benefits long term might have a negative side for the Academy results?

[FKAS]

See Chester Owen was training with the seniors this week (Pretty sure it was him) starting 8 this weekend.

Wonder if training with the seniors whilst more benefits long term might have a negative side for the Academy results?

Hmm I dunno. It might mean the academy players get less time to focus on their next game and systems but might mean they have developed better skill sets particularly around contact. For example how often do we see an age grade wrecking ball come into senior rugby and just get rag dolled by the grown men he's suddenly up against. Quite a few disappear and then come back in if/when they've caught up.

Tigers have rotated a few for this weekend. I wonder if that's just getting game time to more of the players early days or a sign they weren't happy with how last weekend went.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Round 2:

Leicester Tigers

15 Joseph Dickson (Denstone College), 14 Alexander Garrett (Denstone College), 13 George Loose (Gresham’s, 12 Joseph Woodward (Brooksby Melton College, captain), 11 Samuel Jacques (Brooksby Melton College), 10 Ben Taylor (Oakham), 9 Oscar McCarthy (Leicester Grammar), 1 Jack Hurst (Brooksby Melton College), 2 Charlie Barraclough (Denstone College), 3 Oliver Crane (Oakham), 4 Finn Carnduff (Leicester Grammar), 5 Dan Ormerod (Oakham), 6 Simon Koroiyadi (Trent College), 7 Joshua Manz (Northampton School for Boys), 8 Chester Owen (Brooksby Melton College).

Replacements: 16 Max Nolan (Brooksby Melton College), 17 Tom Wand (Brooksby Melton College), 18 Nathan Hind (Brooksby Melton College), 19 Callum Richardson (Gresham’s), 20 Oliver Arnold (Uppingham), 21 Matt Durbridge (Brooksby Melton College), 22 Oscar van Deventer (Denstone College), 23 Max Fairlie (King’s Grantham).

Sale Sharks

15 Leo Zheng, 14 Ben Verbickas, 13 Aaron Pope, 12 Ben Motamed, 11 Owain Williams, 10 Charlie Wardle, 9 Will Wootton, 1 Jack Ellam, 2 Harry Thompson, 3 Patreece Bell, 4 Oscar Walsh, 5 Ellis Causey, 6 Yande Nkonge, 7 Tristan Woodman, 8 Huw Davies (c).

Replacements: 16 Charlie Bancroft, 17 Gareth Parry, 18 Theo Bishop, 19 Frank Chatterton, 20 Will Riley, 21 Niall Povall, 22 Fin Rogers, 23 Alex Whitfield.


Northampton Saints

15 Jody Devine (Samuel Whitbread), 14 Ethan Thorne (St Joseph’s College), 13 Toby Cousins (Oakham), 12 Archie Kean (Royal Hospital School), 11 Frankie Sleightholme (Northampton School for Boys), 10 Toby Thame (Radley College), 9 Harry Hall (Ipswich), 1 Callum Smith (Bedford), 2 Craig Wright (Felsted), 3 Nicholas Tarr (Mark Rutherford), 4 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 5 Carn Richards-Farr (Birchwood High), 6 George Lavender (Colchester RGS), 7 Ted Reid (Colchester RGS), 8 George Patten (Northampton School for Boys).

Replacements: 16 Will Baker (Stamford), 17 Sam Ferrari (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 18 Dave Bennett (Rugby), 19 Levi Wilson (St Joseph’s College), 20 Keon Sylvester (Ipswich), 21 Archie McParland (Stowe), 22 Tommy Taylor (Rugby), 23 Ewan Baker (Stowe).

Yorkshire Academy

15 F Yates, 14 G Worthington, 13 B Horberry, 12 D Talakai, 11 O Aston, 10 J Harris (c), 9 B Parkin, 1 H Derbyshire, 2 L Inman, 3 T Raymont, 4 T Burrow, 5 H Mathew, 6 J Billington, 7 C McCormack, 8 H du Boulay.

Replacements: 16 B Spruyt, 17 H Hussain, 18 A Smith, 19 T Peach, 21 T Carswell, 22 G Chaffer.


Wasps

15 D Barnett, 14 E Rokodrava, 13 W Evans, 12 C Myall, 11 W Glister, 10 J Annand, 9 M Winterburn, 1 C Aitchison, 2 K Jones, 3 A Opoku-Fordjour, 4 M Hornby (c), 5 B McDermott, 6 R Logan, 7 W Blakesley-Grimes, 8 B Pogson.

Replacements: 16 H Silman, 17 K Pittam, 18 J Farmer, 19 C Bell, 20 Z Newcombe, 21 L Casilio, 22 C West, 23 R Sweeting.

Newcastle Falcons

15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Jake Metcalfe, 13 Jez Civil, 12 Will Hindle, 11 Oz Roberts, 10 Harry Williams, 9 Ben Douglas, 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 Charlie Smith, 3 Morgan Hall, 4 Finn Baker, 5 Luke Coulston, 6 Braemar Murray, 7 Will Gibbons, 8 Ewan Venerus.

Replacements: 16 Jacob Oliver, 17 Isaac Keller, 18 Sam Brikbeck, 19 Ayden Knott, 20 Zach Oldham, 21 Freddie Nickalls, 22 Will Roue, 23 Toby Ferguson.


Bristol Bears

15 Sami Hamid, 14 Gabe Lacey, 13 Isaac Campbell Wu, 12 Lucas Berti, 11 Tom Ormsby, 10 Henry Hawkins, 9 Rhys Price, 1 Louis Trevett, 2 James Randall, 3 Billy Moran, 4 Ollie Thraves, 5 Paddy Pearce, 6 Aaron Tull (c), 7 Charlie Cox, 8 Ed Harvey.

Replacements: 16 George Davey, 17 Louis White, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Myles Langley, 20 Archie Prewett, 21 Pete Carter, 22 Jamie Wood, 23 Jake Smith.

Gloucester

15 Will Gilderson, 14 Ty Lewis, 13 Tom Samak, 12 Tom Riman, 11 Ioan Jones, 10 Keillen Cullen, 9 Joe Adams, 1 Will Hurn, 2 George Merritt (c), 3 Henry Pearson, 4 Sam Anson, 5 Mikey Nixon, 6 Freddie Stevens, 7 Jack Hall, 8 Fred Ma’a.

Replacements: 16 Casey Williams, 17 Tom Cabot, 18 Tyler Harvey, 19 Rhys Ford, 20 Tom Worts, 21 Sam Folks-Underhill, 22 Max Knight, 23 Archie Hossack.


Harlequins

15 Ethan Knight (Hampton), 14 Jake Golding (Cranleigh), 13 Ludo Kolade (King’s Canterbury), 12 Ben Waghorn (John Fisher), 11 Amir Sultan-Edwards (Millfield), 10 Jamie Flatley (Whitgift), 9 Charlie Clare (Brighton College), 1 Ethan Clarke (Worthing College), 2 Will Ayton (Wellington College), 3 Caleb Ashworth (Gordon’s), 4 Jonny Green (Seaford College), 5 Harry Browne (Brighton College), 6 Will Peart-Smith (Trinity), 7 Seb Driscoll (Whitgift), 8 Jonathan Smith (Brighton College).

Replacements: 16 Jack Doorey-Palmer (Worthing College), 17 Tosin Teriba (Gordon’s), 18 Jack Wadman (Seaford College), 19 Tom Golder (Gordon’s), 20 Theo Martin (Gordon’s), 21 Murdoch Lock (Wellington College), 22 Sean Kerr (Whitgift), 23 William Sprigett (Wellington College).

London Irish

15 Matt Salisbury (Bishop Wand), 14 Angelo Valentine (Henley College), 13 Alex Enright (Bishop Wand), 12 Connor Cross (Hampton), 11 Sam Rockley (Bishop Wand), 10 Rory Taylor (Wellington College), 9 Ollie Allan (Bishop Wand, captain), 1 Tolii Reeves-Hall (Bishop Wand), 2 Rhys Day (Epsom College), 3 Afolabi Fasogbon (Bishop Wand), 4 Oliver Stirling (Harrow), 5 Finn Worley-Brady (Bishop Wand), 6 Roman Barton-Knott (Bishop Wand), 7 George Hamblin (Harrow), 8 Kade Bird (Epsom College).

Replacements: 16 Oban Baird (Cranleigh), 17 Alfred Akpos (Henley College), 18 Kassim Dawud (Bishop Wand), 19 Connor O’Byrne (Wellington College), 20 Jack Lee (Millfield), 21 Oscar Grantham (Bishop Wand), 22 Theo Williamson (Bishop Wand).


Saracens

15 Jack Cullen (St Albans), 14 Micaal McFarlane (Skinners’), 13 Tyler Weekes (Sutton Valence), 12 Tobias Elliott (Berkhamsted), 11 Charlie Reynolds-West (Oaklands College), 10 Harry Legg (Simon Langton Grammar), 9 Charlie Bracken (St Albans), 1 Freddie Chapman (Oaklands College), 2 James Issacs (Berkhamsted), 3 Tony Erhawah (St Olave’s Grammar), 4 Casper Jack (Berkhamsted), 5 Max Eke (St George’s, Harpenden), 6 Jacob Ray (Sutton Valence), 7 Luca Fahy (Berkhamsted), 8 Nathan Michelow (Sutton Valence).

Replacements: 16 Alex Witchell (Langley Park), 17 Ollie Webb (Berkhamsted), 18 Charlie Keith (Berkhamsted), 19 Kennedy Sylvester (Simon Langton), 20 Barnaby Merrett (Sutton Valence), 21 Ewan Entwistle (Hayes), 22 Ben Westcott (Berkhamsted), 23 Toby Clinch (Finborough).

Bath

15 Byron Lloyd-Gilmour (Marlborough College), 14 McKenzi Rawlings (Beechen Cliff), 13 Will Parry (Sherborne, co-captain), 12 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff), 11 Max Ashton (Beechen Cliff), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield), 1 Tom Hill (Wells Cathedral), 2 Max Pearce (Millfield), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff), 4 Eddie Erskine (Millfield), 5 Will Jeanes (Beechen Cliff, co-captain), 6 George Timmins (Millfield), 7 Archie McKibben (Millfield), 8 Kacey Pike (Beechen Cliff).

Replacements: 16 Tommy McLean (Beechen Cliff), 17 Eric Nixon-Castillo (Millfield), 18 Ellis Baker (Millfield), 19 Jack Haythornwaite (Beechen Cliff), 20 Harvey Matthews (Beechen Cliff), 21 Sam Curwen (Millfield), 22 Harry Carson (Millfield), 23 Charlie Boarder (Downside).

[Mellsblue]

Bishop Wand must be magic given how many players they have in the LI team.