Action at Hartpury College

England Counties Under 18s, who have replaced England Under 18s Clubs and Schools this season, will play a France Under 18 team selected from regional academies on March 28 (7.30pm) followed by Irish Clubs Under 18s in the Festival finale on April 4 (11am).

Although England Counties will have home advantage this year playing in front of home support will bring other pressures.

“It’s pretty massive in terms of the whole playing experience and the whole exposure to it being in England,” said England Counties Under 18s lead coach Dave Reed.

“I think it puts a little bit more pressure on in terms of the lads who are striving achieve the most they possibly they can out of the games and get recognised or picked up by an academy or take their career further.

“If there is a good university looking at them they are in the shop window in the UK this year. But there is a lot more pressure if they want to perform definitely.

“A lot of parents will be there this year as well as family so hopefully the crowd will be bigger and they will play a big part in us being at home.

“When we have played in France and Ireland before the crowd have always played their part in spurring the team on.”

England Counties Under 18s warmed up for Hartpury with a 33-5 defeat by a strong Leicester Academy side last Sunday and Reed expects strong challenges from both France and Ireland.

“Both the French and the Irish will be well prepared. The Irish will have played three internationals by the time they get to us so they will be well prepared.

“France will be France. They will want to run the ball from everywhere and cause you chaos.”

The Festival will also be an emotional time for Reed, who works as the RFU Rugby Development Officer for Northumberland, as it marks the end of a nine year involvement with England Under 18 teams.

“It’s been a brilliant experience for me and I just hope that along the way I have created a little bit of legacy in the way that the lads think and the way the team is allowed to perform,” Reed said.

“We have not been a side that has just turned up. We have really thought about our structure and our values and how we have wanted to be known as a team.

“Over the last four years when I have been lead coach I certainly felt that we have achieved that.

“We have had some exceptional people say how well behaved the kids have been, how well they have performed on the pitch, what excellent ambassadors last year in France.

“In some respects that is very pleasing and very humbling that you can create that environment and atmosphere in a short period of time.

“They appreciate how much of an ambassador they are for their country because that is the highest accolade you can get.”

England Counties Under 18s:

15. James Spencer (Queen Elizabeth GS, Penrith RFC and Cumbria)
14. Myles Bean (King Edward VI School, Bedford Blues RFC and Warwickshire)
13. Connor Hayhow (St Paul’s School, Bracknell RFC and Berkshire)
12. William Newett (Leeds GS and Yorkshire)
11. Benjamin Usher (The Priory Academy, Newark RFC and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire),
10. James Shillcock (Warwick School, Worcester RFC and Warwickshire)
9. Ruaridh Dawson (Newcastle School for Boys, Blaydon RFC and Northumberland)

1. Harrison Berresford (Hautlieu School, Jersey RFC and Hampshire),
2. Tom Doughty (St Bartholomews School, Hove RFC and Sussex)
3. Jack Conteh (Myerscough College, Sale Sharks and Lancashire)
4. John McKenzie (captain, Runshaw College, Preston Grasshoppers RFC and Lancashire) 
5. Joshua Novell (Bedes School, Crowborough RFC and Sussex)
6. Joseph Duffy (Myerscough College, Sale Sharks and Lancashire)
7. Matthew Palphreyman (Wirral GS, Wirral RFC and Cheshire)
8. Dylan Morris (Reed’s School, Wimbledon RFC and Surrey)

Replacements: John Whittaker (Sandbach School, Sandbach RFC and Cheshire), Owen MacCuish (Sandbach School, Sandbach RFC and Cheshire), Kiaran Knight (St Peter’s School, Matson RFC and Gloucestershire), Cameron Gray (The Oratory School, Maidenhead RFC and Berkshire), Justin Rowland (George Abbot School, Chobham RFC and Surrey), Max Hill (Worcester Sixth Form College, Malvern RFC and North Midlands),  Jacob Atkins (St Pauls School, Bracknell RFC and Berkshire), Fergus Wood (Ardingly College, Hove RFC and Sussex), Aaron Martin (Bilton School, Bedford Blues RFC and Warwickshire).