England And Italy Teams Named For Temple Hill Encounter

England and Italy kick of their Under-18 Six Nations Festival fixtures at the home of one of Ireland’s leading AIB League clubs tomorrow when they clash at Cork Constitution’s home ground of Temple Hill (kick-off 5pm).

The England team will be captained by Sedbergh and Sale Sharks centre Tom Casson. His side go into the game off the back of a 25-15 defeat of Wales on March 2 at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways stadium. 

Admitting it is important his team get off to a good start, England Under-18 coach Alex Sanderson said: “We have come here with the mind-set and goal to win every game but at the moment all our focus is on playing Italy. We know a little about our opponents.

“They were recently beaten by France but they ran them close. We know that they have a big, physical pack and we expect them to be as passionate as every Italian team.”

Italy’s squad includes players who recently competed in the FIRA-AER Under-18 European championship so they go into thos game with plenty of experience. They are expected to be tough up front and to pose a big physical threat.

ENGLAND UNDER-18 TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Italy, 2008 Under-18 Six Nations Festival, Temple Hill, Wednesday, March 26, kick-off 5pm):

15 – Jack Wallace (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)

14 – Christian Wade (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)

13 – Tom Casson (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks) (capt)

12 – Tom Homer (Milton Abbey & London Irish)

11 – Sam Smith (Cranleigh & Harlequins)

10 – Freddie Burns (Bath College & Bath Rugby)

9 – Sam Harrison (John Cleveland College & Leicester Tigers)

1 – Lee Imiolek (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks)

2 – David Blackwell (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)

3 – James Currie (Millfield & Bath Rugby)

4 – Joe Quinn (St. Wilfred’s School & Leeds Carnegie)

5 – James Gaskell (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)

6 – Jacob Rowan (Bradford GS & Leeds Carnegie)

7 – Joe Barker (QEGS Wakefield & Leeds Carnegie)

8 – Rob Milligan (Rugby School & Northampton Saints)

Replacements:

16 – Joe Marler (Richmond College & Harlequins)

17 – Jamie George (Haileybury & Saracens)

18 – Mako Vunipola (Millfield & Bristol Rugby)

19 – Tom Holmes (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)

20 – Joe Trayfoot (Epsom College & Harlequins)

21 – Alex Gray (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)

22 – Jordi Pasqualin (The King’s School Gloucs & Gloucester Rugby)

23 – Rory Clegg (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)

24 – Will Hurrell (Wyggeston & QE1 Coll Leicester Tigers)

25 – Andy Forsyth (QEGS Wakefield & Leicester Tigers)

26 – Tom Catterick (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)

ITALY TEAM & REPLACEMENTS:

15 – Marcello Paglia (Rugby Noceto FC)

14 – Michele Mortali (Gran Parma Rugby)

13 – Costantino Ricciardi (Petrarca)

12 – Giovanbattista Venditti (SSD Unione Capitolina)

11 – Giovanno Frapporti (Valpolicella)

10 – Fillippo Michelini (Viadana)

9 – Edoardo Gori (Cavalieri)

1 – Nicola Corbanese (Benetton Treviso)

2 – Enrico Lioineri (Ruggers Tarvisum)

3 – Zamparo Matteo (Amatori San Dona)

4 – Daniele Fratalochhi (Sambendettese)

5 – Paolo Stinchello (SSD Unione Capitolina)

6 – Marco Barbino (Petraca)

7 – Fillppo Ferrarini (Noceto FC)

8 – Gabriele Cicchinelli (SSD Unione Capitolina)

Replacements:

16 – Andrea Manici (Gran Parma)

17 – Nicola Corbanese (Bennetton Treviso)

18 – Antonio Denti (Viadana)

19 – Lorenzo Santelli (ASD Universita Cosenza)

20 – Fillipo Cazzola (Montebelluna)

21 – Tommaso Bergonzini (Viadana)

22 – Nicola Belardo (Partenope)

23 – Sebastian Rodwell (Firenze)

24 – Francesco Lenzi (Cavalieri)

25 – Alberto Chillon (Petrarca)

26 – Tommaso Benvenuti (Viadana)