Chiefs trio in England U18s side

Exeter Chiefs academy starlet Richard Capstick will start for England Under-18s in their clash with Wales on Sunday. Picture: @PPAUK

By Mark Stevens
24/3/18

England Under-18s head coach John Fletcher has named his side to face Wales at Sardis Road in Pontypridd on Sunday (4.15pm KO).

The match is England U18s’ third fixture of their season, having beaten Scotland 64-0 at Murrayfield Stadium last weekend.

Several players return to the side including centre Ollie Lawrence, who has also played U20 rugby for England this season.

Will Capon is named at hooker, having played in the season-opener against France, while Tom de Glanville, and Kieran Wilkinson also return to the side.

Ollie Sleightholme and Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti both play for the first time this season, while Reece Dunn is also named among the replacements.

The fixture on Sunday is the final match before the Six Nations Festival in Wales.

The festival based in Wales will see England U18s play Scotland at Ystrad Mynach (31 March, KO 12pm ), Italy at Cardiff Arms Park (4 April, KO 12pm) and France at the same venue on 8 April (KO 5pm).

John Fletcher said: “We’ll be playing on an artificial surface which will suit both sides and will also encourage both teams to play at a good pace.

“It’s really exciting to be playing in Wales, it’s a great test, we like the atmosphere and it is a good environment for the players to perform in. For a few of the players it’s their final U18s involvement this season so it’s an opportunity for them to end with a strong performance.

“We played well against Scotland on Sunday but this will be a different squad from that match. However, a few of the guys played in Edinburgh so there is an opportunity to carry that momentum into this weekend.

“The aim is always to be better and to improve. As ever we want the players to express themselves both sides of the ball. We want the players to try things and not to be fearful about making mistakes. We want them to explore and bring their strengths to the game.”

England U18s

15. Kieran Wilkinson - Sale Sharks (Kirkham Grammar School)

14. Ollie Sleightholme - Northampton Saints (Northampton School for Boys)

13. Ollie Lawrence - Worcester Warriors (Bromsgrove School)

12. Jack Reeves – Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)

11. Jacob Morris - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)

10. Tom de Glanville - Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)

9. Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti - Newcastle Falcons (Durham School)

1. Olly Adkins - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)

2. Will Capon - Bristol Rugby (Bristol Grammar School)

3. Alfie Petch - Exeter Chiefs (Exeter College)

4. Tom Jeanes - Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)