Charlie Matthews selected for England

Hurst Head Boy, Captain of the College’s 1st XV rugby team and a member of the Harlequins Academy Elite, Charlie Matthews received two pieces of good news this week. First, he learned that he had been awarded the coveted Rugby World accolade of Player of the Month, with his photograph and the following citation appearing in the February issue of this greatly respected magazine: “Charlie’s been the best captain I’ve seen in my 18 years in charge of rugby here at Hurst” said Hurstpierpoint College Head of Rugby, Rob Kift. “An exceptionally agile lineout worker, he has dominated against the likes of Eastbourne College, Cranleigh and Christ’s Hospital and has captained the Sussex U18 county squad. A dynamic and skilful ball carrier, he has scored three tries against Kent U18’s and has bagged five for the College”.

On the same day he received another complete surprise. “I knew last weekend” Charlie said “ when I was playing for London and the South East against the other regions in Coventry, that I was being considered for the England squad for the Association Européenne Rugby Festival in Lille, France in March. In fact, I was a little concerned about my chances of selection when I was subbed off during our first match (playing the Midlands) on the Friday with a full 20 minutes to go. You think that you are playing well but when that happens you do begin to wonder. I didn’t play the full match on the Saturday either but was relieved when someone told me that I had done enough to ensure that I was in the AER squad. Then on the Sunday I played in our final match (against the North) and again I felt that I had played well enough to continue justifying my selection for the squad.”

It was after this match, as Charlie was talking to his father (who used to play Second Row for the London Irish), that he received the bombshell. He was approached and told that he had been selected for the 26 man England U18 Conference squad and is therefore in line to play in the U18 Six Nations rugby tournament in Italy in April in matches against Wales, Ireland and Italy. “To be honest, I couldn’t believe the news, I was shocked and delighted. I had never dared to think that I might be selected for the England U18 team. Even my dad was speechless.”

John Green, Hurst’s Second Deputy Head and 1st XV coach working alongside Rob Kift writes “I have had the pleasure of working with, and coaching, Charlie over the past two years and I must say I am not surprised by his selection for the England U18 squad. He is an excellent rugby player who not only dominates the lineout but is also extremely aggressive and effective in the contact area. Over the past season his ball carrying attributes including off-loads have also been first class.”

England Under 18's Six Nations Festival squad Fixtures are:

March 22^nd, Kingston Park, 2.00 pm England v Scotland
March 29^th, Sandy Park, 2.30 pm, England v Japan High Schools
April 12^th, Grand Parma Rugby, 5.00 pm, England v Wales
April 15^th, Viadana RUFC, 7.30 pm, England v Ireland
April 18^th, Viadana RUFC, 4.00 pm, England v Italy