Batson to start for England U18 against France

Exeter Chiefs academy player Ollie Batson has been named to start against France one week on from his England U18 debut.

Henry Laidlow of Harlequins will captain the England side this Tuesday in the 2025 U18 International Series.

The Six Nations opponents face off at Boland Landbou in Paarl on Matchday 2 of the Series, kicking-off at 14:30 BST.

Second-row forward Laidlow leads the side for the first time on his sixth cap for his country after making his debut vs. Ireland in March. The Trinity School student recently completed his first Next Gen PREM Rugby Academy League campaign with Harlequins.

First starts are awarded to Will Bayston (Sale Sharks), Will Payton (Leicester Tigers) and Krystof Wood (Gloucester Rugby) amongst assistant coach Will Parkin’s backs.

Alongside Laidlow, Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers) and Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints) are the three starting players involved in the 29-27 victory in England’s previous meeting with France in the 2025 U18 Six Nations Festival in Vichy.

With six changes to the starting pack from Matchday 1, Seva Batikora and Marcus Southwell (both Leicester Tigers), Saracens’ AJ Henry and Freddie Jones, Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby) and Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints) will also earn their full debuts.

England conclude their 2025 International Series campaign against hosts South Africa this Saturday at Paarl Gimnasium (14:30 BST kick-off).

Jonathan Pendlebury said: “Georgia presented a challenge that tested our players’ resolve, and we’ve taken many positive learnings from that experience.

“The nature of the schedule means we must adapt quickly and we’ve mentally and physically prepared for the next task in France.

“Under the banner of collective development, we want our players to continue to be daring and explore their boundaries.”

England U18

15 Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, Peterlee and Horden Rugby Club and Durham City, 2 caps)

14 Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, Silhillians Rugby Club, 1 cap)

13 Krystof Wood (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School, Bromsgrove Rugby Club, 1 cap)

12 Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School, Exmouth RFC, 1 cap)

11 Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School, Bury St. Edmunds RUFC, 5 caps)

10 Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, Barkers Butts RFC, 5 caps)

9 Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, Selby RUFC, 1 cap)

1 Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, Olney RFC, 2 caps)

2 Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School, Market Harborough RFC, 1 cap)

3 Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College, Stamford Rugby, 1 cap)

4 Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School, Tunbridge Wells RFC, 1 cap)

5 Henry Laidlow (c) (Harlequins, Trinity School, Twickenham RFC, 5 caps)

6 Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, Kings Worcester, Clee Hill RUFC, 1 cap)

7 AJ Henry (Saracens, Mill Hill, Dartford Valley Rugby Club, 1 cap)

8 Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar, Stockport Rugby Club, 1 cap)

Replacements

16 Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College, Winscombe RFC, 1 cap)

17 Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks, Grammar School at Leeds, Harrogate RUFC, 5 caps)

18 Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Winnington Park Rugby Club, 1 cap)

19 Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, Norwich Rugby Club, 1 cap)

20 Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Preston Grasshoppers RFC, 3 caps)

21 Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, Ashby RFC, 3 caps)

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

23 Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, Old Northamptonians RFC, 4 caps)

24 Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, New Milton Rugby Club, 4 caps

25 Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, Banbury Rugby Club, 1 cap)

26 Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School, Banbury Rugby Club, 5 caps)