Three Chiefs Selected in England U17s Development Squad

Three Exeter Chiefs Academy players - Alfie Johns, Mawgan Talling and Charlie Bosanko - have been selected in England's U17 development squad for May.

Head coach Jonathan Pendlebury and assistant coach Will Parkin have named their training squad for the team’s second camp of the season.

The U17 Men’s side previously met at St. George’s Park in March with a 57-strong cohort now refined to 41 players ahead of this weekend’s meeting at Hartpury College.

Leicester Tigers’ duo Seva Batikora and Kwame Bekoe, as well as Tom Whorrod of Gloucester Rugby, are welcomed to Pendlebury and Parkin’s set-up for their first U17 involvements.

The squad boasts 11 previously capped U18 players, 10 of which were involved in England’s 100% 2025 U18 Six Nations Festival record in Vichy, France. Oscar Talbot of Leicester Tigers earned his first U19 appearance vs. Scotland in April whilst Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons) also trained with Andy Titterrell’s matchweek squad.

England U17 Men will face Hartpury College in an exhibition fixture to conclude this weekend’s camp this Sunday.

The U17 Men’s spring camps serve to recognise recent performances in U17 development fixtures and prepare squad members eligible for selection for this summer’s U18 International Series in South Africa. The U18 Men travel to Loughborough University for their first camp of the 2025/26 season between 24-25 July.

Jonathan Pendlebury said: “Following on from our U18 Six Nations and U19 activity, we’re excited to return to action with a renewed focus amongst a motivated group of players. Having a healthy number of the squad recalled to contend for places on the plane to South Africa speaks to the talent we’re able to work with.

“This weekend is the perfect precursor to our summer plans with a busy schedule to heighten our competitive approach. Many players are only experiencing their second pathway camp, so it’s imperative we continue to drive our standards and principles throughout their time with us.

“Our core framework of exploration, speed and attachment will be implemented across our schedule with the aid of our capped players ahead of a testing matchup against one of the country’s best schools in Hartpury.”

England U17 May Development Camp squad

Forwards

Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)

Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School)

Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, 2 caps)

Jonathan Broadbent (Newcastle Falcons, Gosforth Academy)

Finn Charles (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College)

AJ Henry (Saracens, Mill Hill)

Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, Kings Worcester)

Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar)

Alfie Johns (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)

Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School)

Oliver Knight (Saracens, Berkhamsted)

Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School, 4 caps)

Kajetan Lewandowski (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)

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

James Moore (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)

Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School)

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

Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School)

Mawgan Talling (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)

Monty Wells (Bristol Bears, Taunton School)

Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College)

Backs

James Alcock (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College)

Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School)

Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College)

Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School, 4 caps)

Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, 1 cap)

Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School)

Charlie Heard (Saracens, Berkhamsted)

Max Hooper (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)

Austin Keogh (Sale Sharks, Macclesfield Campus)

Bruno Lamb (Bristol Bears, SGS College)

Logan Parry-Kilby (Saracens, Berkhamsted)

Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School)

Caspar Reeves (Bristol Bears, Taunton School)

Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 3 caps)

Luc Springate (Harlequins, Epsom College)

Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, 4 caps)

Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School, 4 caps)

James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, 3 caps)

Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, 4 caps)

Tom Whorrod (Gloucester Rugby, Warwick School)