England U18 Vs Wales U18 preview

Taunton RFC will host the young men of England and Wales this coming Sunday in an Under 18 International match. Within the county town club there are those with personal experience of representing their country at age group level. Charlie Wright, who has captained Taunton Titans in recent weeks, lined up in the white of England only a few seasons ago whilst, for Assistant Coach Chris Brown, it was a few years earlier that he played for the Welsh Under-21s.

The memories are still clear for Brown who recalls, “Most of it I can still remember like yesterday. My first experience of pulling on the red jersey was for Wales U21 against Scotland in 1991. The passion and excitement surrounding that fixture and the intensity of feeling was overwhelming, with a 3,000 strong crowd in Edinburgh.” Wright, who was first capped by England at Under 16 level, was presented with his shirt by his brother Harry as family members were invited to hand over the white shirt with the red rose. “Everyone was a bit nervous as we didn’t know one another but videos were playing of our best moments from schoolboy rugby. I was holding back the tears.”

Did it feel like the big break moment? “My first game was against Wales funnily enough,” recounts Wright. “At Caerphilly. It was the next level for me to go to. I’d played East Devon, then Devon, on to South-West and finally England. In the moment it felt like ‘Got it’ but from there it was about retaining my spot in the team.”

“At the time,” says Brown, “you are so wrapped up in your position, and your job and what it means that the moments just drift you by,blissfully unaware that this is a pivotal moment for you.”

How did the game go? “The game itself was dominated by our team with Scott Quinnell proving too much to handle for the men in blue. He created and scored the winning try and was generally too much to cope with.” Brown should know, he played at flanker alongside the legendary Welsh number 8.

“I remember exactly how it went,” says Wright. “We’d just sung the national anthem. I was pumped up, feeling goose-bumpy, nervous,excited and then in the first five minutes we were defending just outside our 22. I flew up out of the line, trying to get an early shot on my opposite number. He off-loaded and they went through the gap I’d left. Luckily someone bailed me out by making the tackle. I thought to myself, ‘Come on Charlie,switch on.’ For the rest of the game, I sat outside Marcus Smith and he just put me through holes all game. I played quite well and we won comfortably.”

What does the Anglo-Welsh fixture mean to those actually playing in it? “It means everything to play for your country,” says Brown, “Against England? More. This fixture has a special significance with old rivalries and borders being put on the table. Two styles, head-to-head, beauty against the beast. That significance tends to translate into absolute commitment and a willingness to embrace the hywl, a Welsh term used to embrace the motivation and emotional energy of players.”

Wright concurs, “I played three times against Wales and itwas built up more than the other games. You know it’s going to be physical,their forwards and the French pack, were the most formidable. It’s a realconfrontation and you want to be better than them.”

Did playing age-group for your country lead Wright and Brown to believe they would have a professional career in rugby? “They are not a definite indicator of ‘making it’ but are a fantastic platform to test your skill set at a level which – for most of that age – has not been experienced,”says the Titans forwards coach, “My experience of those fixtures was that it made me push as hard as possible to try and get similar moments as my rugby career progressed. In the end, that was it for me, and I never did get further– it was ‘as good as it gets’. That said, I wouldn’t trade those matches for anything and am grateful for the motivation and insight they gave me.”

Wright agrees, “I thought this is going to put me in pretty good stead for playing professional rugby but you’re so worried about playing well that you don’t – and can’t – think about it on the field. There’s a high probability that you’ll go on and play a good level of rugby, whether that’s in National One, Championship or the Premiership. Most guys are attached to an academy. I’d already signed for Exeter Chiefs by the time I played Under 18 for England.”

What is in store for the aspiring young men representing Wales and England on Sunday? Brown predicts a hearts-on-sleeves encounter,adding, “Expect no quarter given and a repeated physicality in the tackle area which will not be for the faint hearted.” From the England side, Wright foresees, “A fast-paced game, really physical, accurate and dynamic. Emotions will be high. It is England versus Wales after all.”

If that hasn’t been enough to whet the appetite, you might want to consider making a day of it. Taunton RFC is running its legendary pre-match carvery for just £15 (book now by calling 01823 336363 or emailing functions@tauntonrfc.co.uk) and the game itself is just £5 to watch with free car parking. Whatever your allegiance, come and watch some of the future superstars of Anglo-Welsh rugby at your local ground.

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