Newcastle Falcons’ Ajay Edwards has been named in the England U18 Men’s squad for the 2025 International Series in South Africa.

Head coach Jonathan Pendlebury and assistant coach Will Parkin have selected a 26-player cohort that will travel to the Western Cape this August to face Georgia, France and hosts South Africa across three match days on August 8, 12 and 16.

A new captain will be selected for each match day to lead the U18 Men’s side. 

Pendlebury’s squad assemble at Loughborough University’s Elite Athlete Centre this Thursday for a two-day, pre-tournament training camp.

“Congratulations to all players and staff involved on the tour, the work behind-the-scenes across last season’s U17 and U18 camps has been incredibly rewarding so far,” Jonathan Pendlebury said.

“This Series awards an opportunity to players to take a first step onto the pathway and develop themselves as rugby players and individuals. Their experiences will be critical in our endeavours to continue building a leading England team in years to come. 

“With a healthy proportion of our travelling squad already capped, their chemistry and leadership will be invaluable to our efforts and we’re determined to explore beyond our boundaries in the coming weeks.”

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England U18 Men’s 2025 International Series squad (includes current academy, school and U18 caps)

Forwards

Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College, uncapped)

Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, uncapped)

Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, 2 caps)

AJ Henry (Saracens, Mill Hill, uncapped)

Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, Kings Worcester, uncapped)

Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar, uncapped)

Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School, uncapped)

Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School, 4 caps)

Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 2 caps)

Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, uncapped)

Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 1 cap) 

Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School, uncapped)

Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks, Grammar School at Leeds, 4 caps)

Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College, uncapped)

Backs

Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School, uncapped)

Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, uncapped)

Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College, uncapped)

Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School, 4 caps)

Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, 1 cap)

Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, uncapped)

Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, uncapped)

Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 3 caps)

Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, 4 caps)

Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School, 4 caps)

James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, 3 caps)

Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, 4 caps)

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England U18 Men’s 2025 International Series fixtures (all fixtures to be streamed live on SuperSport Schools)

Friday August 8, 2025 – 13:30 – Georgia vs England – Paarl Boys’ High School

Tuesday August 12, 2025 – 15:30 – England vs France – Boland Landbou

Saturday August 16, 2025 – 15:30 – South Africa vs England – Paarl Gimnasium