Academy quartet follow in Lions footsteps

An England Under-18 squad named for a development tour to South Africa this summer includes four members of the Leicester Tigers Academy. National Academy coaches John Fletcher and Peter Walton have named a squad of 26 hoping to build on a cleansweep of wins in this season’s Five Nations Festival. Leicester Tigers centre Joe Cobden is welcomed back after injury and he joins prop Ryan Bower, flanker Matt Everard and fly-half George Ford in the squad. England play three matches in South Africa against Western Province on August 1, Boland on August 4 and South Africa Schools on August 8. Head coach Fletcher said: "Development tours like this are crucial to the progress of talented young players. Although playing in the Five Nations Festival is hugely important, players also need to compete against the southern hemisphere teams.... [read full story]                    

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