Bayliss, who recently featured in this BRTV video about making the step up from schoolboy rugby to the professional game, leads the U18s for the first of their three-match series. Following the match against France, they will then face South Africa Schools A (16 August) and South Africa Schools (20 August).

England U18 Forwards coach Peter Walton is expecting a physical test from France but says the aim is to develop the squad over the next fortnight.

“France will test our physicality especially through the forwards,” said Walton.

“They’re also pretty unpredictable which makes the game an excellent test for the players, we played them once this year which was our only defeat of the season and the players are keen to change the result.

“The whole tour is about developing the players through the three games and we are focussing on improving our performances from the end of last season.”

Walton says the side will look to cause France as many problems as possible on Friday.

“We play to where the opportunities are on the pitch and expect all of the players to be able to adapt in the game,” he said.

“We will clearly take them on in the forwards and create good momentum to exploit the space and come up with solutions to the problems and score some tries.”

Fixtures:

France U18 (Friday, 12 August) 11am BST

South Africa Schools A (Tuesday, 16 August) 1.30pm BST

South Africa Schools (Saturday, 20 August) 1.15pm BST

	England U18 v France U18 – City Park Cape Town 12pm
	First Name	Surname	Academy	School
1	Alex	Seville	Gloucester Rugby	Hartpury College
2	Jamie	Blamire	Newcastle Falcons	Gosforth Academy
3	Ciaran	Knight	Gloucester Rugby	St Peters
4	Ted	Hill	Worcester Warriors	Worcester College
5	Josh	Williams	Newcastle Falcons	Hartlepool
6	Josh	Bayliss	Bath Rugby	Millfield School
7	Tom	Curry	Sale Sharks	Oundle School
8	Tom	Willis	Wasps Rugby	The Henley College
9	Rory	Brand	London Irish	Wellington College
10	James	Grayson	Northampton Saints	Moulton College
11	Levi	Davis	Leicester Tigers	Denstone
12	Jacob	Umaga	Wasps Rugby	Wyggeston & QEI College
13	Matt	Williams	London Irish	Wellington College
14	Tom	Parton	London Irish	Wellington College
15	Ali	Crossdale	Saracens	Sedbergh School
16	Henry	Walker	Gloucester Rugby	Bromsgrove School
17	Jarod	Leat	Wasps Rugby	St Pauls Catholic College
18	Ehren	Painter	Northampton Saints	Felsted
19	Dino	Lamb-Cona	Harlequins	Cranleigh
20	Sam	Moore	Sale Sharks	Sedbergh School
21	Ben	Curry	Sale Sharks	Oundle School
22	Harry	Simmons	Leicester Tigers	Greshams
23	Ben	Loader	London Irish	Wellington College
24	Gabriel	Ibitoye	Harlequins	Trinity

Bayliss named England U18 captain for series opener

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