U18s to make history in Sweden

Ten countries have entered teams in Rugby Europe’s U18 European Championship – a tournament which has received little fanfare despite being so revolutionary.

Indeed so ground-breaking is the competition that most entrants have never previously attempted to field a team at this age group, making the outcome of the tournament extremely difficult to predict.

TheNetherlandswill be a team to watch as they have had a junior sevens programme for some years, and have had a policy of entering their national age-groups teams into adult club tournaments to gain experience and develop towards places in the adult squad.Germany’syoungsters are also an experienced team and have been a frequent opponent for the Netherlands, though the Dutch have generally had the better of their meetings.

EnglandandWaleshave played regular XVs rugby at U19 and U20 level in the past, with Wales having a rather better record against their great rival than their senior team, though they have not met since 2011 as Wales moved its development effort into sevens. Nonetheless neither have played any international sevens at U18 level before - though all of the leading players will have taken part in the recent Sainsbury’s School Games in Manchester, where England’s London & South East Region were again champions and Wales “A” finished fourth. Both squads also include players with senior experience, including Sydney Gregson, who made her senior England debut in European Championships in Moscow last season, and Elli Norkett who played for Wales at the World Cup in August.

Ireland’sU18 team also took part in the UK schools tournament, beating Scotland to win the bowl, having finished fourth in 2013, and it is a measure of the growth of their game that over 200 girls competed for a place in the squad in trials that took place in April.

The other four participants are even more unknown, thoughBelgium’steam is almost entirely composed of players from adult First Division teams, andSwedenwill benefit from home advantage.Russia’steam have a great deal to live up to, being given the top seeding following the success of their senior team while completing the ten areItalyandPortugal.

France and Ukraine also entered the tournaent, but have since withdrawn. France withdrew due to the tournament taking place in the same weekend at the World Series qualifier, while the Ukraine were forced to withdraw obvious domestic difficulties. Scotland and Spain did not enter.

Fixtures

Pool A

13th September

Belgium v RussiaItaly v NetherlandsRussia v GermanyItaly v BelgiumNetherlands v GermanyRussia v ItalyNetherlands v BelgiumItaly v Germany

14th September

Russia v NetherlandsGermany v Belgium

Pool B

13th September

Sweden v EnglandIreland v PortugalEngland v WalesIreland v SwedenPortugal v WalesEngland v IrelandPortugal v SwedenIreland v Wales

14th September

England v PortugalWales v Sweden