England U18 confirm squad for final round of Six Nations Festival against France

England U18s head coach John Fletcher has named his side to play France in the final game of the Six Nations Festival in Wales.

Fletcher's side have so far been narrowly defeated in their opening two games of the festival by Scotland and Italy and face France at the Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday (KO 5pm).

There are nine changes to the side that played Italy on Saturday, with backs Reece Dunn, Jack Reeves, Jacob Morris, Manu Vunipola and Blake Boyland returning.

Prop Bevan Rodd and hooker Alfie Barbeary are included in the front row, with lock George Martin also returning, while flanker Rob Farrar comes into the back row.

John Fletcher said: “I want to see them play for the full 70 minutes. In patches we’ve been good both sides of the ball but we have lacked consistency and we have been in and out of the game far too much.

“We are going to need to play for 70 minutes against France as they are probably the best team in the festival. We played them early in our season and although the game was quite even I was impressed with their play.

“The players have worked really hard over the past week and we would like to see them perform for 70 minutes on Sunday. It’s a really good opportunity for us to end the festival on a high with a really positive performance.”

England U18s:
15. Reece Dunn - Gloucester Rugby (St Peter's High School)
14. Josh Hodge - Newcastle Falcons (Sedbergh School)
13. Will Simonds - Wasps (The Henley College)
12. Jack Reeves - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
11. Jacob Morris - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
10. Manu Vuniplola - Saracens (Harrow School)
9. Blake Boyland - Bristol Rugby (SGS College)
1. Bevan Rodd - Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
2. Alfie Barbeary - Wasps (Bloxham School)
3. Cal Ford - Sale Sharks (Sandbach School)
4. Ben Donnell - London Irish (Peter Symonds College)
5. George Martin - Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
6. Rob Farrar - Newcastle Falcons (Sedbergh School)
7. JJ Tonks - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
8. Rus Tuima - Exeter Chiefs (Exeter College)

Replacements:
16. Samon Ma'asi - Northampton Saints (St Josephs)
17. Lewis Holsey - Worcester Warriors (Solihull School)
18. Jack Bartlett - Gloucester Rugby
19. Will Montogmery - Newcastle Falcons (Kirkbie Kendal School)
20. Henri Lavin - Leicester Tigers (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth College)
21. Ted Leatherbarrow - Sale Sharks (Kirkham Grammar School)
22. Callum Pascoe - Newcastle Falcons (Gosforth Academy)
23. George Barton - Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
24. Connor Doherty - Sale Sharks (Kirkham Grammar School)
25. Ollie Sleightholme - Northampton Saints (Northampton School for Boys)
26. Harry Barlow - Harlequins (Cranleigh School)