PAUL Mullan — father of Worcester Warriors prop Matt — has been named lead coach of the England Under 18s side ahead of the AER (Association Europeenne de Rugby) tournament which will be played in France in April.

Mullan senior, who has been promoted from assistant coach, has coached the Greater Birmingham and North Midlands under 16 sides, as well as North Midlands under 18s and Midlands under 18s. He is also second deputy head at Bromsgrove School.

North Midlands Under 16s will complete their preparations for the forthcoming programme of county matches with a development training day at Bromsgrove School on Sunday (9.30am).

The session will involve almost 40 players after which the selectors will name a squad of 24 for the four county matches.

The first of those is at Broadstreet RFC, near Coventry, on Thursday were North Mids will play Warwickshire (7.30pm).

North Mids then play East Midlands at Syston RFC, near Leicester, on November 2 before hosting Leicestershire at Ledbury RFC on November 16.

North Mids complete their programme with a home game against Staffordshire at Bromsgrove’s Finstall Park ground on November 27.

The Midlands Under 16 selectors will then name an extended squad for a development weekend at Longton RFC in Stoke from November 29 to 30 which will be followed by the Midlands final trial at Solihull School on December 7.

John Bridgens has been appointed lead coach of North Midlands with John Blackhall, of Bromsgrove RFC, and Gary Sheriden as his assistants.

Sheriden replaces Martyn Longhurst, who has succeeded Bee Bannister, of Nunnery Wood High School, as chairman of selectors. Bannister has stepped down because of his increasing commitments at divisional and England level.