England’s Under 18s Offer Hope Of A Brighter Future — Martin Johnson’s Teenage Son In Squad
At a Bisham Abbey training camp that has drawn attention from senior coaches, martin johnson’s teenage son is among a group of teenagers the England head coach flagged for their size and potential, offering a glimpse of optimism for the national pathway.
Martin Johnson’s Son Among ‘Big Geese’ In Under 18s
The Under 18s squad includes a string of physical prospects who have already been singled out for the strength they bring to age-group rugby. The group on camp contained a 21-stone 16-year-old, a former 100 metres runner converted into a prop, a 6ft 5in winger and martin johnson’s teenage son, showing the variety and scale of talent progressing through the ranks.
Seventeen-year-old captain Charlie Bray described the group colourfully: “We have some big geese in this team. ” Bray pointed to gym metrics that underline the point, saying squat results and force outputs are “very high. ” The squad mixes immediate contributors with longer-term projects who could feed senior club and national environments in the coming years.
Size, Set-Piece Focus And The South Africa Tour
England’s head coach returned from a visit to South Africa impressed by the depth of heavyweight players there and noted similar promise closer to home. “What South Africa have done so well over such a long period of time is the number of players they have brought through, ” he said, adding that England’s pathway is producing notable talent and that “there is size in that pack. “
Many of the Under 18s endured a testing tour to South Africa last year where they faced older opposition and lost every match. The tour proved formative. Tighthead prop Lawrence Ogbonnaya, who converted from the centres and now weighs around 20 stone, reflected on the physical lessons learned, recalling a first scrum that collapsed and the blunt feedback he received from an opponent. He said the experience prompted significant improvement and a change in how he views scrummaging.
Senior coaching input has arrived at the camp to sharpen technical work. Scrum coach Tom Harrison visited the youngsters to develop set-piece skills, running the same techniques used by established front-rowers. Players are training to engage off one knee to increase consistency with the senior game and to build familiarity with the set-piece demands they will face if they progress.
Pathway Progress And What Comes Next
Coaches at age-group level are shaping sessions with an eye on the future, using physical development and technical continuity as blueprints. Bray outlined a tiered view of progression: short-, medium- and long-term goals aimed at moving players into senior club and England environments. He cited examples of recent successful fast-track players as indicators of what is possible, while acknowledging development will vary by individual.
The squad also contains individuals whose stories have already attracted attention: Harry Westlake, who previously became a viral figure after performing the national anthem as a mascot, is part of the group, underlining the mix of character and capability in the camp. Coaches are balancing the physical demands with technique and game understanding to prepare recruits for the next steps in the pathway.
With senior coaches watching and a focus on the attributes likely to matter at higher levels, the Under 18s camp has become a useful barometer for England’s emerging forward strength. For fans tracking the next generation, the presence of high-profile surnames alongside demonstrable physical progress offers a tangible reason for cautious optimism.
