Northampton Saints’ second youngest player of the professional era, Jack Lewis, has been named to start alongside academy teammate Aiden Reid, in the England U18 Men’s matchday squad to face France in this weekend’s meeting at Kingsey Road, with Sonny Goode named amongst the replacements.
All three players have featured this season for the Saints U18s side in the PREM Next Gen Academy League, with Lewis this week becoming the Saints’ youngest ever recipient of the cinch Player of the Month award following his performances in the PREM Rugby Cup in February.
Pendlebury’s team descend on Oxford on Saturday (14 March, kick-off: 2pm) for a first home fixture since 2023, at the home of Champ Rugby’s Chinnor RFC. The fixture will be streamed live on the England Rugby YouTube channel.
The last time England hosted France at U18 Men’s level in 2023, Northampton Saints own British & Irish Lions tourist Henry Pollock captained the side that also included England Men’s A players Vilikesa Sela and Kepu Tuipulotu, with France narrowly winning 29-24.
After attaining three wins from three over Scotland, Spain and France in the 2025 tournament, England U18 Men take on Ireland to open the 2026 U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival on Friday, 3rd April. All fixtures will be streamed live on the Six Nations U20 YouTube channel.
Head coach Jonathan Pendlebury said: “This weekend offers a fantastic opportunity for these young players to explore their game in front of a capacity crowd in Chinnor. We’re thankful to our hosts for putting on a brilliant occasion, in what is our first home game in three years.
“As a pathway group, this part of the season is all about development in adapting to new challenges and building the habits that will serve us well as we prepare for the Six Nations.
“Most importantly, we want the players to enjoy the occasion, continue to support each other and show the growth they've made together as a team.”
England U18 Men’s squad to face France (includes academy, school/college and U18 caps)
15 Oli Hewitt (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School, uncapped)
14 Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School, 5 caps)
13 Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, uncapped)
12 Declan Treacey (c) (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, 7 caps)
11 Caspar Reeves (Bristol Bears, Taunton School, uncapped)
10 Zac Jones (Saracens, Mill Hill, uncapped)
9 Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School, 2 caps)
1 Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 3 caps)
2 Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears, Hartpury College, 2 caps)
3 Ben Smith (Yorkshire Academy, Wath Academy, uncapped)
4 Fin Charles (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College, uncapped)
5 Jeremy Keys (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, uncapped)
6 Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School, 3 caps)
7 Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys, 5 caps)
8 Leo Dickinson (Harlequins, Kings College Wimbledon, uncapped)
Replacements
16 Tiane Elone (Saracens, Mill Hill School, uncapped)
17 Hendro Hattingh (Sale Sharks, Scarisbrick School, uncapped)
18 Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College, 2 caps)
19 Ben Allen (Bath Rugby, Wellington College, uncapped)
20 Harry Westlake (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College, uncapped)
21 Henry Johnson (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School, uncapped)
22 Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School, 2 caps)
23 Max Hooper (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School, uncapped)
24 Rio Bennett (Saracens, uncapped)
25 Archie Guyver (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College, uncapped)
England’s 2026 Under-18 Men’s Six Nations Festival fixtures;
- England U18 Men vs. France U18 Men (warm‑up friendly) – Saturday 14 March, 14:00 GMT – Kingsey Road, Chinnor RFC
- U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival – Matchday 1: Ireland vs. England – Friday 3 April, 16:15 BST – Stade Municipal Louis Darragon
- U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival – Matchday 2: England vs. Georgia – Tuesday 7 April, 13:15 BST – Stade Municipal Louis Darragon
- U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival – Matchday 3: Italy vs. England – Saturday 11 April, 16:15 BST – Stade Municipal Louis Darragon