Batson to make England U18 debut versus Georgia

Exeter Chiefs academy player Ollie Batson will start for England U18 on his international age-grade debut this weekend.

Head coach Jonathan Pendlebury and assistant coach Will Parkin have named their squad to face Georgia on matchday one of the 2025 International Series.

The English side kick-off the 2025/26 season against their Six Nations Festival counterparts this Friday (12:30 BST kick-off) at Durbanville High School.

Bath Rugby’s Declan Treacey is named matchday captain a year on from his brother and U20 international Connor skippering the U18 Men in South Africa.

Treacey is one of 12 previously-capped internationals at Pendlebury’s disposal this week, with Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs), Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers), Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints), Sale Sharks’ Jordan Ikeh and Lawrence Ogbonnaya and Casper Wheeler of Bristol Bears earning their first U18 caps.

Uncapped Krystof Wood (Gloucester Rugby) has been called into the squad as injury cover for Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs) and takes his place on the replacements bench. Seven further players could make earn their first England pathway caps if utilised as finishers.

England continue their International Series campaign against France next Tuesday at Boland Landbou (14:30 BST kick-off).

“Georgia will present a very tough challenge to open up our tour this Friday,” Jonathan Pendlebury said.

“Our time together as a squad so far has been encouraging and each player has elevated their standards with exceptional high performance in training. It’s now time to put these actions into place.

“Congratulations must go to Declan [Treacey] and our debutants on their respective milestones, each of which are richly deserved and are sure to be reinforced with positive performances in Durbanville.”

England U18:

15 Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, Banbury Rugby Club, uncapped)

14 Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School, Banbury Rugby Club, 4 caps)

13 Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School, Exmouth RFC, uncapped)

12 Declan Treacey (c) (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, New Milton Rugby Club, 4 caps)

11 Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School, Bury St. Edmunds RUFC, 4 caps)

10 Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, Old Northamptonians RFC, 3 caps)

9 James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, Harbury RFC, 3 caps)

1 Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks, Grammar School at Leeds, Harrogate RUFC, 4 caps)

2 Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College, Winscombe RFC, uncapped)

3 Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Winnington Park Rugby Club, uncapped)

4 Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School, Twickenham RFC, 4 caps)

5 Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, Norwich Rugby Club, uncapped)

6 Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Preston Grasshoppers RFC, 2 caps)

7 Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, Ashby RFC, 2 caps)

8 Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar, Stockport Rugby Club, uncapped)

Replacements:

16 Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School, Market Harborough RFC, uncapped)

17 Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, Olney RFC, 1 cap)

18 Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College, Stamford Rugby, uncapped)

19 Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School, Tunbridge Wells RFC, uncapped)

20 Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, Kings Worcester, Clee Hill RUFC, uncapped)

21 AJ Henry (Saracens, Mill Hill, Dartford Valley Rugby Club, uncapped)

22 Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, Selby RUFC, uncapped)

23 Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, Barkers Butts RFC, 4 caps)

24 Krystof Wood (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School, Bromsgrove Rugby Club, uncapped)

25 Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, Silhillians Rugby Club, uncapped)

26 Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, Peterlee and Horden Rugby Club and Durham City, 1 cap)