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Three Dean Close pupils in England’s Six Nations Under-18 squad

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Thursday, 11th April 2019, 10:20

George Barton

The 2019 Under-18 Six Nations Rugby Festival gets under way today and Dean Close School are delighted that three of their players will be involved.

George Barton, Archie Benson and Josh Gray are all in the England squad and the school’s supporters won’t have to travel far to see them play against Wales because the game on Saturday (noon kick-off) takes place at Hartpury College.

Fly-half Barton, the school’s 1st XV vice-captain, made his under-18 debut last year as part of that Six Nations campaign and has also had the opportunity to be part of the England Under-20 programme as part of his development, which is another fantastic achievement for someone two years young.

Meanwhile, Benson, the school’s 1st XV captain, and Gray won their first international caps, starting at second row and blindside flanker respectively, in an entertaining 36-21 win over an under-18 Scotland side at Billingham in Middlesbrough.

The three boys have been an integral part of a hugely successful Dean Close 1st XV season in which the school were ranked 14th nationally in the Daily Mail Trophy.

While the team were disappointed to lose narrowly in the last 16 of the Nationals Schools’ Cup in January, they are delighted with the England call-ups.

Greg Baber-Williams, the school’s director of sport, said: “The boys thoroughly deserved their success, demonstrating a huge amount of hard work, commitment and determination to succeed with their rugby ambitions at school, Gloucester Academy and now with the England Under-18 squad.”

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Archie Benson

Josh Gray

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Three Dean Close pupils in England’s Six Nations Under-18 squad

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