Worcester Warriors rising star Matt Kvesic has been named in the England Under 18 squad for the remaining five games of this season’s international programme.
The side coached by John Fletcher and Peter Walton extended their unbeaten international run to 13 games when they beat Australian Schools side 30-28 last month.
All 23 players used at Heywood Road – which includes Kvesic, a product of the Warriors AASE scheme, are retained.
England take the field against France at Newbury on Sunday, February 21 (3pm) and away games follow against Italy (March 7) and Wales (March 28) before they face Ireland and Scotland in the annual Six Nations Festival in April.
“We’ve got a strong squad and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season,” said Fletcher.
“There’s not been much carry-over from last season so there’s a lot of young lower-sixth guys in it but they’ve trained well and did well against Australia in December.
“We’ll try and give everyone a start in the first two matches and go from there into the game against Wales and the Festival.
“Everyone will get a lot of game time. Young players can’t develop without being pitched in to deal with stress and adversity, and we’ll put them in that position to see how they cope.”
ENGLAND U18 SQUAD
Forwards
Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens)
Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry’s GS Otley & Leeds Carnegie)
Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps)
Koree Britton (Ivybridge Coll & Exeter Chiefs)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro Coll & Exeter Chiefs)
Matt Kvesic (Worcester Sixth Form College & Worcester Warriors)
George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins)
Nathan Morris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons)
Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich Coll & London Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Epsom Coll & Harlequins)
Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
Sam Twomey (Dulwich Coll & Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps)
Chris Walker (Prince Henry’s GS Otley & Leeds Carnegie)
Backs
Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks)
Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps)
Chris Elder (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)
Jamie Elliott (Bedford & Northampton Saints)
George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers)
Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons)
Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks)
Ryan Mills (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester)
Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens)
Dan Robson (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester Rugby)
Charlie Walker (Oakham & Leicester Tigers)
Marland Yarde (Whitgift & London Irish)
ENGLAND U18 INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES
December 13: England U18 30 Australia Schools 28
February 21: England U18 v France (Newbury, 3pm)
March 7: Italy U18 v England U18 (Calvisano 2.30pm)
March 28: Wales U18 v England U18 (TBC)
April 2: England U18 v Ireland (Six Nations Festival in Wales)
April 6: England U18 v Scotland (Six Nations Festival in Wales)