This weekend’s JTCs – the coaches’ view

We canvassed the thoughts of the England Junior teams’ coaches ahead of the weekend’s action in Dublin.

Questions

1) Last year's finishing position

2) What you're aiming for this year

3) Name your capt/vice-capt

4) Players to watch

5) Any other business

Boys 18

1) Finished first last year, beating Wales in the Final

2) We have a lot of new players this season; we are looking to build their skills to make them better players. We also certainly want to maintain our number one status!

3) Captain – Kolia Bermann. Vice-Captain – Daniel Eaglestone

4) We have four players that played in the Premiership Permit in Edinburgh, they will be looking to build on their success there and lead the team through the tournament:

Kolia Bermann – Played for the Northern Knights and proved he can handle himself in the men’s game

Daniel Eaglestone – Played for the Southern Crusaders, who took out the final.

Oliver Maynard – Oliver played a big part in the Northern Knights team and has improved in the men’s game which should translate well to Under 18s

Sam Missin – Sam had such a good permit tournament he was invited to train with England Men’s Open

All four players are looking to have brilliant tournaments and will influence the game massively.

Girls 18

1) Second behind Wales

2) First! We definitely have high ambitions and strong chances

3) Captain – Kate Davis-Bavin. Vice-Captain – Orla McCallion

4) Lucy Norburn is a young quick smart player that has a left and right hand pass. Captain Kate Davis-Bavin will not only lead her team with pride never giving up she will also be a a key strike player in our young talented team

5) All our Under-18 England girls have taken this 2017 Junior campaign to a whole new level with their extra fitness and skills sessions and plenty of team bonding which means they are very ready for JTC

Mixed 18

1) Third

2) A final

3) Captain - Sam Lawton-Davies. Vice-Captain - Salesi Tuiono

4) Sam Lawton-Davies and George Worboys both have massive potential to threaten defences, with quick feet, quick thinking and good decision making, they could easily slot into an open side and this tournament should give then both ample opportunity to learn, develop and impress

Mixed 15

1) Second

2) First!

3) Captain – Keir Clark. Vice-Captain – Macy Kang

4) Matthew Maynard, who has good speed and evasion skills, and Cai Andrew, a new player with amazing 'show and go'

5) The progression of the players and depth of numbers is great to see and promising for the future as they move up the age groups