Front rowers Harry Rudkin and Harry Thacker and centre George Catchpole have been named in England’s starting XV to take on Georgia on Friday, (9.30am BST). Centre Javiah Pohe is among the replacements.
England were losing finalists in last year’s event and kick off this season’s competition against a strong Georgian side at the Universitaria Madrid.
Fletcher said: “This is a big tournament for the lads and Georgia up first will be a big test. For the past few years they have been getting stronger – they play to their strengths, they have big forwards, they’re physical and they will be a handful.
“It will be a big challenge – particularly for our forward pack – we play them on a narrow pitch, so it’s exciting and we’re looking forward to it.”
England U18 starting XV v Georgia
15 Zach Kibirige (Yarm School) (Newcastle Falcons)
14 Howard Packman (Moulton College) (Northampton Saints)
13 George Catchpole (Leicester Grammar) (Leicester Tigers)
12 Nick Carpenter (Filton College) (Bristol Rugby)
11 Nathan Earle (Oaklands) (Saracens)
10 Sam Olver (Oundle School) (Northampton Saints)
9 Tom Chapman (Colfe’s School) (Saracens)
1 Harry Rudkin (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I) (Leicester Tigers)
2 Harry Thacker (Leicester Grammar) (Leicester Tigers)
3 Scott Wilson (Sedbergh School) (Newcastle Falcons)
4 Maro Itoje (Harrow School) (Saracens)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bryanston School) (Bath Rugby)
6 Max Northcote-Green (Millfield) (Bath Rugby)
7 Gus Jones (Eton College) (London Wasps)
8 Joel Conlon (Ivybridge Community College) (Exeter Chiefs)
Replacements
16 Reece Marshall (Moulton College) (Northampton Saints)
17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Moulton College) (Northampton Saints)
18 Alex Lundberg (Hampton) (London Wasps)
19 Jake Oldaker (Wellington College) (Bath Rugby)
20 Josh Buggea (Hartpury College) (Worcester Warriors)
21 Callum Braley (Hartpury College) (Bristol Rugby)
22 Billy Burns (Hartpury College) (Gloucester Rugby)
23 Javiah Pohe (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I) (Leicester Tigers)
24 Tom Stephenson (Moulton College) (Northampton Saints)
25 Josh Watkins (Bromsgrove School) (Worcester Warriors)
26 Ross Moriarty (Hartpury College) (Gloucester)
