Ajay Edwards selected for England U18s

Wednesday 06 August 2025 Written by: Tom Grisedale

Newcastle Falcons’ Ajay Edwards has been selected as a replacement for England U18s ahead of their 2025 International Series opening fixture against Georgia.

The Men’s Pathway side kick-off the 2025/26 season against their Six Nations Festival counterparts this Friday (12:30 BST kick-off) at Durbanville High School. All International Series fixtures will be streamed live on SuperSport Schools.  

England continue their International Series campaign against France next Tuesday at Boland Landbou (14:30 BST kick-off). 

“Georgia will present a very tough challenge to open up our tour this Friday,” head coach, Jonathan Pendlebury said.  

“Our time together as a squad so far has been encouraging and each player has elevated their standards with exceptional high performance in training. It’s now time to put these actions into place. 

“Congratulations must go to Declan [Treacey] and our debutants on their respective milestones, each of which are richly deserved and are sure to be reinforced with positive performances in Durbanville.”


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

15 Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, Banbury Rugby Club, uncapped) 

14 Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School, Banbury Rugby Club, 4 caps) 

13 Ollie Batson (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter School, Exmouth RFC, uncapped) 

12 Declan Treacey (c) (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, New Milton Rugby Club, 4 caps) 

11 Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School, Bury St. Edmunds RUFC, 4 caps) 

10 Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, Old Northamptonians RFC, 3 caps) 

9 James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, Harbury RFC, 3 caps) 

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

2 Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College, Winscombe RFC, uncapped) 

3 Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Winnington Park Rugby Club, uncapped) 

4 Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Trinity School, Twickenham RFC, 4 caps) 

5 Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, Norwich Rugby Club, uncapped) 

6 Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School, Preston Grasshoppers RFC, 2 caps) 

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

8 Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar, Stockport Rugby Club, uncapped) 

Replacements 

16 Marcus Southwell (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School, Market Harborough RFC, uncapped) 

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

18 Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College, Stamford Rugby, uncapped) 

19 Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School, Tunbridge Wells RFC, uncapped) 

20 Henry Horsfall (Gloucester Rugby, Kings Worcester, Clee Hill RUFC, uncapped) 

21 AJ Henry (Saracens, Mill Hill, Dartford Valley Rugby Club, uncapped) 

22 Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, Selby RUFC, uncapped) 

23 Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, Barkers Butts RFC, 4 caps) 

24 Krystof Wood (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School, Bromsgrove Rugby Club, uncapped) 

25 Will Payton (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School, Silhillians Rugby Club, uncapped) 

26 Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, Peterlee and Horden Rugby Club and Durham City, 1 cap)


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

Friday August 8, 2025 – 12:30 – Georgia vs England – Durbanville High School 

Tuesday August 12, 2025 – 14:30 – England vs France – Boland Landbou 

Saturday August 16, 2025 – 14:30 – South Africa vs England – Paarl Gimnasium