SHARKS QUARTET NAMED IN ENGLAND U18 SQUAD

England U18 Men’s head coach Jonathan Pendlebury has named four Sharks in his matchday squad to face France in the 2026 U18 International Series. 

After a two-try haul against Georgia on Matchday 1, openside flanker Charlie Bray will once again captain the side with scrum-half Will Bayston and prop Lawrence Ogbonnaya also starting the fixture at Boland Landbou School. Jordan Ikeh will start Tuesday’s game (11th, 12:30 BST kick-off) on the replacements bench.

All fixtures will be streamed live on SuperSport Schools and Official Springbok YouTube channel.  

Fellow try-scorer Taniel Tumusiime and Zac Jones maintain their places in the England backline, the latter of whom switches to fly-half. 

In a largely unchanged pack, Henry Veale and Ellis Woolrych are the two alterations to Pendlebury’s forwards after both earning their debuts at Durbanville High School last Friday. 

Leicester Tigers prop Joe Edmunds could earn his first England U18 cap if utilised off the replacements bench.  

England U18 Men conclude their U18 International Series this Saturday, taking on hosts South Africa on Matchday 3 at Stellenberg High School (14:30 BST kick-off).  

Jonathan Pendlebury said: “The win over Georgia gave us a positive start to the tour and highlighted some of the attacking intent and enjoyment within this group, but our focus now is on continuing to evolve, grow and get better as a team.  

“We know two tough challenges await us this week against France and then South Africa, but our full attention is on the next opportunity in front of us, with every player taking ownership of their role and supporting one another to raise our standards.  

“France will test our relentlessness across the full 70 minutes, and we’re excited to see how this squad responds as they continue their development in a supportive rugby environment.” 

England U18 Men’s squad to face France (includes current academy, school/college, community club and U18 caps)

15 Will McIntosh (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, Kingsbridge RFC, 1 cap) 

14 Taniel Tumusiime (Saracens, Harrow School, Wasps FC, 1 cap) 

13 Will Moore (Bristol Bears, Clifton College, South Gower RFC, 3 caps) 

12 Will Catley (Northampton Saints, Stowe School, Market Bosworth RFC, 1 cap) 

11 Jack Tyler (Harlequins, Cardinal Newman, Pulborough RFC, 1 cap) 

10 Zac Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Mill Hill, Westcombe Park RFC, 5 caps)  

9 Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, Selby RFC, 7 caps) 

1 Henry Veale (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, Blandford RFC, 1 cap) 

2 Tiane Elone (Saracens, Mill Hill, Westcombe Park RFC, 4 caps) 

3 Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Winnington Park, 4 caps*) 

4 Fin Charles (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College, Newark Rugby Club, 5 caps) 

5 Ellis Woolrych (Harlequins, St John’s School Leatherhead, Sutton and Epsom RFC, 1 cap) 

6 Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, Norwich RFC, 8 caps) 

7 Charlie Bray (c) (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Preston Grasshoppers RFC, 5 caps*) 

8 Ediz Karsak (Saracens, The Judd School, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, 1 cap*) 

Replacements 

16 Henry Sui (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, Salisbury Rugby Club, 1 cap) 

17 Kaiden Corbett (Bristol Bears, SGS College, Cleve RFC, 1 cap) 

18 Joe Edmunds (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College, Belper Rugby Club, uncapped) 

19 Jeremy Keys (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, Withycombe RFC, 4 caps)  

20 Ben Allen (Bath Rugby, Wellington College, Gosport and Fareham Rugby Club, 5 caps) 

21 Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar, Stockport Rugby Club, 3 caps) 

22 Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, Banbury RFC, 6 caps)  

23 Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, Barkers Butts RFC, 7 caps*)  

24 Jack McIntosh (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, Kingsbridge RFC, 1 cap)  

25 Jeremiah German (Northampton Saints, Ipswich School, Colchester RFC, 1 cap)  

26 Charles Morgan (Saracens, Mill Hill, Aylesford Bulls, 1 cap)  

*denotes capped at U19 level 

England U18 Men’s 2026 U18 International Series fixtures and results 

England 66-33 Georgia – Friday 7th August, 12:30 BST kick-off – Durbanville High School 

England vs. France – Tuesday 11th August, 12:30 BST kick-off – Boland Landbou 

England vs. South Africa – Saturday 15th August, 14:30 BST kick-off – Stellenberg High School