Norfolk duo’s development continues with England Under-19 experience
Will Evans in action for Leicester Tigers on his debut, in an Aviva Premiership clash with Gloucester at Welford Road. Picture: Tigers Images - Credit: Tigers Images
The development of Norfolk youngsters Will Evans and Harry Simmons has continued with appearances for the England Academies Under-19s.
Harry Simmons, right, making his Leicester Tigers debut. - Credit: Submitted
The duo both played as the U19s were held to a 26-26 draw by France in Newcastle.
Evans, 19, started the match at openside flanker having recently shot to prominence with Leicester Tigers.
The former Wymondham College pupil became the second youngest forward to ever start a Premiership match for Tigers earlier this month.
Evans, originally from Woodton, near Bungay, had been brought in as a late injury replacement and received a standing ovation for his efforts in the opening 50 minutes of a 35-30 win over Gloucester at Welford Road.
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The former Wymondham RFC junior started the game for the U19s and Simmons, a Gresham's School student who is also progressing through the academy system at Leicester, was introduced from the bench on Saturday.
The 18-year-old scrum-half is a former Holt junior and the son of former Norfolk, Eastern Counties and Holt captain, Mark Simmons.
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National academy development manager John Fletcher said: 'I was pleased with the overall performance. France have a dominant scrum which gave them a good platform but I thought our general ball movement was stronger than France.
'We deserved our lead, scored some good tries and then France snuck one at the end.
'In hindsight we could have made some different decisions with the ball in the final five or 10 minutes. Some of our decision making towards the end could have been slightly different. Overall it was a really good experience for us.'
