Two Chiefs Included in England U18 Tour Squad

Exeter Chiefs academy players Ollie Batson and Charlie Bosanko have been included in the England Men's U18 squad for an international series.

Head coach Jonathan Pendlebury and assistant coach Will Parkin have confirmed their squad for the 2025 International Series in South Africa.

The 26-player cohort will travel to the Western Cape this August to face Georgia, France and hosts South Africa across three matchdays on the 8th, 12th and 16th August. A new captain will be selected for each matchday to lead the U18 Men’s side.

England return to action after earning a 100% winning record at the U18 Six Nations Festival for the second consecutive year with victories over Scotland (71-5), Spain (43-19) and International Series opponents, France (29-27).

Northampton Saints’ Jack Lewis, Hugh Shields and Charlie Tamani, Charlie Bray and Oliver Spencer (both Sale Sharks), Henry Laidlow (Harlequins), Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby), Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby) and Oscar Talbot and James Townsend of Leicester Tigers are the ten previously capped players in the squad.

Ten players that played a part in England’s 2024 International Series progressed to the U19 programme in 2025, with Saracens’ Noah Caluori and Asa Stewart-Harris also involved in the U20 Men’s recent World Rugby U20 Championship campaign.

Pendlebury’s squad assemble at Loughborough University’s Elite Athlete Centre this Thursday for a two-day, pre-tournament training camp. Fin Charles (Leicester Tigers) and Max Hooper (Bath Rugby) have been invited to train with the squad in preparation for the Series.

“Congratulations to all players and staff involved on the tour, the work behind-the-scenes across last season’s U17 and U18 camps has been incredibly rewarding so far,” Jonathan Pendlebury said.

“This Series awards an opportunity to players to take a first step onto the pathway and develop themselves as rugby players and individuals. Their experiences will be critical in our endeavours to continue building a leading England team in years to come.

“With a healthy proportion of our travelling squad already capped, their chemistry and leadership will be invaluable to our efforts and we’re determined to explore beyond our boundaries in the coming weeks.”

England Men's U18:

Forwards

Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College, uncapped)

Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, uncapped)

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

AJ Henry (Saracens, Mill Hill, uncapped)

Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, Kings Worcester, uncapped)

Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar, uncapped)

Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School, uncapped)

Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School, 4 caps)

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

Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, uncapped)

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

Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School, uncapped)

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

Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College, uncapped)

Backs

Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School, uncapped)

Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, uncapped)

Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College, uncapped)

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

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

Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, uncapped)

Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, uncapped)

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

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)