Newcastle Falcons pair Patrick Hogg and Sam Graham are part of the England Under-18s squad taking on Wales on Saturday.

The Six Nations Rugby Festival opener takes place in the Italian city of Parma, with a 4.45pm UK-time kick-off.

Blaydon RFC and Durham School forward Hogg (right of picture) starts at blind-side flanker for head coach Jonathan Pendlebury’s side, with Durham City RFC and Durham School prop Graham on the bench.

The festival is a key phase of the England pathway for players and coaches to evolve and flourish on the international stage, with equal playing opportunities for each union and three 70-minute fixtures across three match days.

This year’s edition is the third successive staging of the U18 age-grade festival, which incorporates the unions of Portugal and Georgia for the first time.

Pendlebury said: “The coaches and I have selected a team that we believe can make a positive first step into this tournament on Saturday. We have a determined and relatively young cohort that are ready to stake their claim at this level.

“Whilst results remain important for all levels of rugby, at the heart of what we want to see is enjoyment and exploration from our group and putting our principles of speed, attachment and space into practice in competitive scenarios.

“As a pathway we aim to give these players experiences that will last their rugby careers and beyond, and they now have the opportunity to create memories on and off the field with their teammates.”

Saturday’s game will be streamed live, free of charge, on the Six Nations Under-20 YouTube channel.

England U18s team to face Wales (includes current club, school and community club)

15 Dan Green (Sale Sharks, St Ambrose School, Bowdon RUFC)

14 George Pearson (Midlands Central, City of Oxford College, Buckingham RUFC)

13 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, Ivybridge RFC)

12 Israel Akinrowo (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, Devenport Services RFC)

11 Tyler Offiah (London & South Central, Wellington College, Ealing Trailfinders)

10 James Linegar (Bath Rugby, Kingswood School, Chippenham RFC)

9 Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints, Bedford School, Royston Rugby Club)

1 Jamie Miller (Harlequins, Whitgift School, Battersea Ironsides Rugby Club)

2 Jimmy Staples (Harlequins, Seaford School, Worthing Rugby Club)

3 Ollie Streeter (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, Haywards Heath RFC)

4 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, Bedford School, Bedford Blues RFC)

5 Jonno Balding (Gloucester Rugby, Radley College, Overton RFC)

6 Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, Blaydon Rugby Club)

7 Connor Treacey (captain – Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff, New Milton RFC)

8 Solomon Shand (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury College, Aylesbury RFC)

Replacements

16 George Knowles (Midlands West, Hereford Cathedral School, Ledbury Rugby Club)

17 Josh Mann (Exeter Chiefs, Truro College, Penzance & Newlyn RFC)

18 Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School, Durham City Rugby Football Club)

19 Elliot Williams (Harlequins, Gordon’s School, London Irish Amateur RFC)

20 Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar, Rochdale RUFC)

21 Olly Allport (Gloucester Rugby, Dean Close College, Stow-on-the-wold & District RFC)

22 Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity School, Bromley RFC)

23 Felix Bateman-Champain (Harlequins, Worth School, East Grinstead RFC)

24 Fraser Rawlins (Saracens, Haileybury, Saracens)

25 Rafe Witheat (Northampton Saints, Stowe School, Ampthill RUFC)

26 Finn Newton (Saracens, Haileybury, Hertford RFC)