Newcastle Falcons youngster Ajay Edwards is set to earn his second cap for England U18s, having been named on the bench for their U18 Six Nations Festival clash against France.

Edwards made his debut at fullback during England’s emphatic 43-19 victory over Spain in Round 2.

The final fixture of the Festival kicks off at 17:30 BST on Friday (April 18) at Stade Municipal Louis Darragon and will be streamed live and free on the England Rugby YouTube channel.

Tickets for the match are available and priced at €10.Jonathan Pendlebury said: “Our performance against Spain offered some exciting rugby on both sides of the ball, whilst also offering up areas of refinement necessary for all players and staff to get better.

“Heading into the final act of our competitive schedule this month, our team – players and coaches – have excelled in reflecting our framework of planning, exploration, adaptation and ownership. The importance of collective development has been reinforced by the team’s bonding together as a brotherhood in gametime and away from the pitch.

“Friday’s fixture is finely poised, and we as a group are aligned in seizing the opportunity in another demanding test against France.”

England U18 Men’s team to face France (includes current academy, community club, school/college and U18 caps)

15 James Pater (Northampton Saints, Shelford RFC, The Leys School, 3 caps)

14 Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Banbury Rugby Club, Bloxham School, 3 caps)

13 Will Knight (vc) (Gloucester Rugby, Longlevens RFC, Hartpury College, 3 caps)

12 Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, New Milton RFC, Beechen Cliff School, 3 caps)

11 Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Bury St. Edmunds, Finborough School, 3 caps)

10 Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Barkers Butts RFC, Rugby School, 3 caps)

9 Isaac Mears (Bath Rugby, Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, 3 caps)

1 Alan Poku (Saracens, Ealing Trailfinders, Bishop Wand School, 3 caps)

2 Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester Rugby, Drybrook RFC, Hartpury College, 3 caps)

3 Harry Wright (Gloucester Rugby, Alcester, Stourport High School & Sixth Form College, 3 caps)

4 Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Gloucester Rugby, Lydney RFC, Dean Close School, 3 caps)

5 Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Twickenham RFC, Trinity School, 3 caps)

6 Elliot Williams (c) (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, 9 caps)

7 Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Preston Grasshoppers, Kirkham Grammar School, 1 cap)

8 George Marsh (Leicester Tigers, Holt RFC, Denstone College, 3 caps)

Replacements

16 Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins, Twickenham RFC, Bishop Wand School, 3 caps)

17 Oliver Spencer (Yorkshire Academy, Harrogate RUFC, Grammar School at Leeds, 3 caps)

18 Sam Bland (Yorkshire Academy, Wharfdale, Bishop Burton College, 3 caps)

19 Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints, Hadleigh RUFC, Sedbergh School, 3 caps)

20 Tate Williams (Harlequins, East Grinstead RFC, Worth School, 2 caps)

21 Matthew Branch-Holland (Saracens, Sidcup RFC, Ravens Wood, 5 caps)

22 James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Harbury Rugby Football Club, Warwick School, 3 caps)

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

24 Zac Finch (Saracens, Sidcup RFC, Ravens Wood, 2 caps)

25 Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Falcons, Horden and Peterlee RFC, Durham Cathedral School, 1 cap)

England U18 Men’s 2025 U18 Six Nations Festival fixtures and results

Each team will play 1 x 70-minute match on each match day, with four matches taking place each day at Stade Municipal Louis Darragon (MD1 – Thursday 10th April, MD2 – Monday 14th April & MD3 Friday 18th April).

Matchday 1 (Thursday 10th April) – KO 12:15 BST – England 71-5 Scotland

Matchday 2 (Monday 14th April) – KO 10:00 BST – Spain 19-43 England

Matchday 3 (Friday 18th April) – KO 17:30 BST – France vs. England