Bath Rugby Academy’s Declan Treacey, a former New Milton Rugby Club player, has been called up to the U18 England squad for the 2025 U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival

Former New Milton Rugby Club player Declan Treacey has been selected as part of the 26-player England squad for the 2025 U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival in Vichy, France, this April.

The robust back, known as a big hitter, has made the U18 England squad despite only being 16, following in the footsteps of older brother Connor, who captained England U18 during their international series in South Africa and recently earned three caps with England U20s at this year’s Six Nations tournament.

Declan and his brother, 6’2” Connor, 19, both began their rugby careers at New Milton Rugby Club at the tender age of six before joining Bath Rugby Academy.

The Treacey family has an impressive rugby pedigree. The patriarch, Brendan, played National League Rugby for Clifton in Bristol, with all three sons following the Bath academy pathway.

Connor’s Bath career started when he was 15 before he captained Bath U18s and signed his first professional contract last July. Declan joined at 14, and Oscar, a U14, is just starting his journey.

“We’re all so pleased for Declan”, said father Brendan Treacey, who coaches New Milton RFC’s U14s. “It’s exciting to see him following on from Connor and taking his next steps.”

Declan attends Beechen Cliff School, which works closely with Bath Rugby to assist in the development of promising young rugby players.

“They have both done so well at Beechen Cliff School, both captaining the school side and also Bath U18s to the Premiership Rugby Academy League final”, added Brendan. “Connor’s team managed to win the final, while Declan’s side came up against a very good Northampton side.

“Declan is a big hitter, one of the most physical players in the league. He is known for making big tackles and for his strong carries, and he has a good, strong pass. Now, he’s just trying to develop his kicking.”

Like his brother, Declan is a dual-national, with the option of playing for England or Ireland. Brendan added: “Irish Rugby have been in contact with us, and they’re very keen to get Declan involved, but England RFU’s academy pathway has worked well with Connor, and we hope it will for Declan, too.”

Former Priestlands student Declan, who last played for New Milton when he was in the U16s, played with his older brother Connor for Bath U18s when he was just 15 against Harlequins, while the ultimate dream would be to pull on the England kit together.

Declan, who plays at centre, and the England U18 squad face Ireland in a friendly fixture at University College Cork on Saturday, with many of his family making the trip to watch him.

The Bath Academy product, who stands just over six foot and weighs 98 kilos, just over 15 and a half stone, will be one of seven players to step up from the recent U17 England camp at St. George’s Park to secure their place in the squad.

England U18s coach Jonathan Pendlebury said: “With many of the players travelling away and earning caps for the first time, the U18 festival is an exciting opportunity for our players to grow and take ownership of their development.

“The next month is a perfect learning opportunity for all involved to get better and explore week-on-week. Our messaging will focus on players’ individual progression as well as development as a unit.

“The immense amount of dedication from the players and staff to implement our pathway framework this season must be commended. The players have adapted well to our camp meetings, and now is the time to demonstrate their work in a competitive arena.”

The 2025 tournament will be hosted at Stade Municipal Louis Darragon, home of RC Vichy. It will feature the standard Six Nations sides, plus Georgia and Spain.

England will first take on Scotland on 10th April before facing Spain on 14th April in the second of three matchdays. Four days later, they will clash against the host nation, France.

Supporters can watch the 2025 U18 Men’s Six Nations Festival live on the Six Nations U20 YouTube channel.