Jamie George (Hertford RFC and Haileybury College) and Owen Farrell (Harpenden RFC and St George’s School) have both been selected to play for the London and South East Division Under 16 team at the weekend. They will be in the starting XV against the South West, while Jake Sharp (Saracens RFC and Sheredes School) and Bill Lake (Watford Grammar School) will be on the substitutes’ bench.

In addition, Jamie has been appointed captain of the team. A forceful hooker, Jamie will be looking to turn in a good performance in front of the England selectors. Owen, a talented centre, will also be hoping that he can match his father, Andy, and go on to reach the national squad.

The Divisional squad prepared with two training sessions at St Albans School over the weekend 6-7 January. Hertfordshire Under 16s’ lead coach, Steve Robins, and Peter Coke (also a county Under 16 coach) were there as well, having recently been appointed to the Divisional coaching team. Well deserved recognition for the success of the Herts Under 16s in recent seasons!

The team will go on to play the North on Sunday and all four of our players will hope to be involved in that match. The final inter-Divisional game, against the Midlands, will take place at the end of the month. All of the matches are played at the RFU’s centre at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton. The selectors will chose 60 players for the England and England A squads which will play in a Four Nations tournament and the Millfield Festival respectively.