As the 2026 U18 6 Nations Festival approaches, England are preparing to unleash a new generation of talent onto the international stage. Under the guidance of Jonathan Pendlebury, a 26-man squad will assemble before travelling to Vichy, where the young English side will take on Ireland, Georgia and Italy. Within a relatively inexperienced group, several promising prospects – including Declan Treacey – will have the opportunity to further establish their credentials at this level.
Jonathan Pendlebury names his squad for the U18 6 Nations Festival
Jonathan Pendlebury, head coach of England U18, has confirmed a 26-player squad for the 2026 6 Nations Festival. The group will come together at the start of the week ahead of the competition’s opening fixture on April 3 in Vichy.
With development at the heart of the pathway system, the England coaching staff have opted to implement a rotating captaincy throughout the tournament. The approach is designed to give multiple players the chance to take on leadership responsibilities, both on and off the pitch, within a squad still finding its identity at this level.
Experience across the group remains limited. Fifteen members of the squad only earned their first U18 caps in the recent warm-up fixture against France at Chinnor, underlining both the inexperience and the long-term potential within this cohort.
Among those with greater familiarity at this level, Declan Treacey stands out. The Bath centre, who captained the side in that recent encounter against France, is set to feature in his second U18 Six Nations Festival. Alongside Charlie Tamani and Jack Lewis, he is one of only a handful of players returning for a second campaign, placing him in a key position within the squad’s leadership structure.
In the forward pack, Jack Lewis and Aiden Reid – both products of Northampton School for Boys – arrive with several caps to their name and enhanced reputations following their success in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup. Their side is particularly well represented, with four players selected in total, including Charlie Tamani and Sonny Goode in the backs.
Another notable inclusion is Henry Johnson, son of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson. The Leicester Tigers back-row forward continues his progression through the national pathway and is in line to earn his second cap at this level, having featured in the recent fixture against France.
Speaking following the squad announcement, Pendlebury emphasised the importance of the festival in the players’ development:
“This festival is a fantastic opportunity for our group to explore their game, discover their strengths and continue to take ownership of their development in a challenging international environment.”
“Facing strong opposition in Ireland, Georgia and Italy will require us to adapt quickly and continue improving together as a group.”
England will open their campaign against Ireland on April 3, before facing Georgia on April 7 and Italy on April 11. All fixtures will take place at the Stade Municipal Louis Darragon in Vichy.
Selected England players for the 2026 U18 6 Nations Festival
Forwards:
Ben Allen (Bath), Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers), Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers), Fin Charles (Leicester Tigers), Tiane Elone (Saracens), Hendro Hattingh (Sale Sharks), Henry Johnson (Leicester Tigers), Jeremy Keys (Exeter Chiefs), Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints), Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints), Ben Smith (Yorkshire Academy), Kaiden Watson (Harlequins), Harry Westlake (Exeter Chiefs), Casper Wheeler (Bristol Bears)
Backs:
Will Bayston (Sale Sharks), Rio Bennett (Saracens), Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs), Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints), Archie Guyver (Exeter Chiefs), Oli Hewitt (Gloucester), Max Hooper (Bath), Zac Jones (Saracens), Will Moore (Bristol Bears), Caspar Reeves (Bristol Bears), Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints), Declan Treacey (Bath)
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