WARRIORS youngster Andrew Boyce has kept his place in the England under 18 side for today’s FIRA/AER European Championship semi-final against Scotland in France (6pm).

The King’s School, Worcester, back-rower played in the 82-8 thrashing of Portugal and remains in the number seven jersey despite 11 changes being made to the side.

England played Scotland on March 3 in Darlington, scoring nine tries in a 57-12 win, but forwards coach Pete Walton is well aware England will need to match that level of performance.

He said: “We enjoyed a good win against Portugal, there are areas to work on, but we scored 14 tries so there are a lot of positives to take out of it. We had a lot of fresh faces in the squad and they all gelled together very well.

“We know that Scotland have improved since we last played them, and we played very well that day, so it’s up to us to match that performance or better it.”

Elsewhere, Worcester academy winger Colin Dickson starts for England under 18s clubs and schools against Ireland under 18 clubs at Coolmine RFC in Dublin on Saturday.

Dickson was capped by England under 16s two years ago and impressed playing for North Midlands under 18s in their pre-Christmas programme of county matches and for the Midlands in their recent divisional matches against the south west and the north.

North Midlands back-row forward Sam Smith (Old Swinford Hospital School and Warriors) has been named among the replacements for the clubs and schools XV.