Academy Manager Andy Rock said, "We are delighted for the players to all be sharing this opportunity to represent both England and Bath Rugby in the game this Sunday. There are so many people that have supported these young men over the years to progress as players, and there will be a lot of proud people watching them.

"I know we are excited to see them expressing themselves out there on the pitch, with so many of their team mates around them, and their friends and families watching. There’s a lot of hard work ahead for these guys to continue to develop and to progress beyond the age group programme, but for now the focus can be on enjoying every minute of this experience."

The starting XV includes six players who toured South Africa with England U18s in the Aon International Series last August with Sam Riley, George Martin, Nahum Merigan, Tom Curtis, Tom Roebuck and Phil Cokanasiga all named.

Raphael Quirke, who also played in that August series last year, is named among the replacements.

The U18s are led by pathway performance coaches Mallinder and Steve Bates, alongside consultant coaches Mark Luffman, Sean Marsden and Jonathan Fisher.

Luffman (Darlington Mowden Park), Marsden (Bristol Bears academy) and Fisher (London Irish academy) all join for the season as part of the coach development agreement.

The U18 season began with August’s AON International Series where England played France, Wales and South Africa Schools showing significant improvement throughout the tournament.

Following Sunday’s fixture, the side will next play France at Cheshunt RFC on Sunday 24 March (KO 2pm GMT) before April’s U18 Six Nations Festival.

The U18 Six Nations Festival, which is being hosted by England, will see the squad face Wales on Saturday 13 April, before matches against Ireland (Wednesday 17 April) and France (Sunday, 21 April).

The festival, which is participated in by all six unions, sees each nation play three fixtures over 10 days. The teams will be hosted by Hartpury University and Hartpury College, with matches across three venues - Gillman’s Ground, Sixways Stadium and Kingsholm Stadium.

Jim Mallinder said: “We are looking forward to taking on Scotland at Billingham RUFC. One of the advantages of playing on a brand-new AGP is whatever the weather conditions, it gives us the ability to play with ball in hand.

“I want the players to enjoy the occasion, which is a massive thing about rugby; they have to enjoy playing the game but also understand that this is a brilliant opportunity for them. They’ve come through their schools and their academies and now have an opportunity to play for England with some of the best 23 players in the country, and to show how good they are at this level. We have some good players and our challenge will be how quickly we can come together, develop and improve as a team.

“It’s great that we’re taking this fixture to the north of England and we’re looking forward to playing in front of vocal home support at Billingham.”

England U18s

15 George Worboys Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff)
14 Joe Browning Leicester Tigers (Denstone College)
13 Louis Hillman-Copper Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)
12 Phil Cokanasiga London Irish (St Pauls College)
11 Tom Roebuck Sale Sharks (Wirral Grammar)
10 Tom Curtis Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
9 Jack Van Poortvliet Leicester Tigers (Oakham School)
1 Harry Fry Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
2 Sam Riley Harlequins (St George's Weybridge)
3 Jenson Boughton Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
4 George Martin Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
5 Archie Benson Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
6 Josh Gray Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
7 Xavier Hastings Bath Rugby (Bishop Wordsworth's)
8 Nahum Merigan Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)

Replacements
16. John Stewart Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
17. Luke Green London Irish (St Paul’s Catholic College)
18. Fin Baxter Harlequins (Wellington College)
19. Ewan Richards Bath Rugby (Millfield School)
20. Will Trenholm Harlequins (Cranleigh School)
21. Raphael Quirke Sale Sharks (St Ambrose College)
22. Orlando Bailey Bath Rugby (Beechen Cliff School)
23. Jude Williams Wasps (Caterham School)

England U18 2019 home fixtures

England v Scotland
Sunday 17th March, kick-off 14:00
Billingham RUFC

England v France
Sunday 24th March, kick-off 14:00
Cheshunt RFC

U18 Six Nations Festival fixtures

Matchday one - Saturday 13th April
KO       Gillman’s Ground, Gloucester
12:00    England v Wales
14:30    Ireland v France
17:00    Scotland v Italy

Matchday two - Wednesday 17th April
KO       Sixways Stadium, Worcester
11:00    France v Italy
13:30    Ireland v England
16:00    Wales v Scotland

Matchday three - Sunday 21st April
KO       Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
11:00    Scotland v Ireland
13.30    England v France
16:00    Italy v Wales

Six Bath Rugby players named in England U18s side to face Scotland

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