Five Bath Rugby players have been included in the England U18s squad for the U18 Six Nations Festival, which takes place between 11th-21st April.
Orlando Bailey, Nahum Merigan, Ewan Richards, John Stewart and George Worboys have all received call-ups following a successful season with the Blue, Black and White, where they won six of their seven games in the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League.
The festival which is being hosted by England Rugby at Hartpury University and College will see three sets of fixtures at Gillman’s Ground, Sixways Stadium and Kingsholm, all live via FreeSports TV.
Jack Bates, Harvey Beaton, Jack Clement, Phil Cokanasiga, Tom Curtis, Martin, Nahum Merigan, Raffi Qurike, Sam Riley, and Tom Roebuck all toured South Africa last August in the U18 Aon International Series which marked the start of the U18 pathway season.
Curtis, Clement and Quirke all played for England U19s last weekend, while Ollie Stonham is uncapped at age-grade level so is in line for his England U18 debut.
England will face Wales on Saturday 13 April, before matches against Ireland (Wednesday 17 April) and France (Sunday, 21 April) with entry free at all three venues.
Players, coaches and management will also have access to a range of off-field experiences and development opportunities in between match activity during the 10 days.
England U18s are led by pathway performance coach Mallinder, and consultant coaches Jonathan Fisher, Mark Luffman and Sean Marsden for the season.
Bath Rugby's Academy Manager, Andy Rock, said: "It’s a powerful message for us and for our regional player pathway and this should serve as inspiration for all the young players just getting started with us in the U15s and U16s.
"All of these young men have developed within the Academy programme with us at Bath Rugby over the past three to four years, as well as within their clubs and schools. They have also played for Dorset and Wiltshire or Somerset, for their respective County teams during their U15 and U16 seasons. All five of them have worked incredibly hard over a number of years to get to this point and have all earned this opportunity through their performances here with Bath Rugby in our U18 season over the course of this season.
"We really believe that both individually and collectively they will have a huge impact with the upcoming U18 Six Nations Festival, and to see them all playing together in an England shirt will bring a huge sense of satisfaction and pride to everyone at the Club."
England U18 Six Nations Festival squad
Orlando Bailey Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Jack Bates Bristol Bears (SGS College)
Fin Baxter Harlequins (Wellington College)
Harvey Beaton Saracens (Sutton Valence)
Archie Benson Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Joe Browning Leicester Tigers (Denstone College)
Joe Carpenter Yorkshire Carnegie (Woodhouse Grove)
Jack Clement Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)
Phil Cokanasiga London Irish (St Pauls College)
Tom Curtis Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
Harry Fry Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
Josh Gray Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
Luke Green London Irish (St Paul’s Catholic College)
Louis Hillman-Cooper (Gloucester Rugby Cheltenham College)
George Martin Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
Nahum Merigan Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Raphael Quirke Sale Sharks (St Ambrose College)
Ewan Richards Bath Rugby (Millfield School)
Sam Riley Harlequins (St George's Weybridge)
Tom Roebuck Sale Sharks (Wirral Grammar)
John Stewart Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
Ollie Stonham Saracens (Felsted School)
Will Trenholm Harlequins (Cranleigh School)
Jack van Poortvliet Leicester Tigers (Oakham School)
Jude Williams Wasps (Caterham School)
George Worboys Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff)
Festival fixtures
Saturday 13th April - England v Wales (12:10), Gillman’s Ground, Gloucester
Wednesday 17th April - Ireland v England (13:40), Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Sunday 21st April – England v France (13:40) - Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
