Cobham pair Rory Anderson and Thomas Hilton-Stevens have been named in a 26-man England U16 A squad who head up six action-packed days of rugby over the Easter period with three matches in the inaugural Wellington International Festival 2010.

Wellington College, in Crowthorne, Berkshire, have taken over the reigns from Somerset's Millfield School, who have held the event for the past eight years, and have even provided a new pitch especially for the occasion.

While both Wales and the USA are missing this year, the England U16 A team, led by Northampton Saints centre Jordan Husband, will be tested to the limits, facing Scotland A on Easter Sunday (2pm), Belgium the following Tuesday (Apr 6, 10am) and France A on Friday (Apr 9, 1pm) to close the tournament.

"Scotland is always a firm test and that's what we are focused on at the moment," says Steve Shortland, head coach for the past four years.

"Belgium and France A will be a different kind of test for us."

Also playing in the festival this year are the similar age group national teams of Canada and Portugal, along with Italy A and an English Divisions side.

While the senior England U16 team, along with Italy, France and Wales are in Rome competing in this seasons Four Nations competition, the England U16 A squad members have a glorious opportunity in the Wellington Festival to establish their credentials for inclusion in future England age-group squads.

It's also a chance for them to not only proudly wear the white shirt with the red rose but to build on their two previous losing games against Northampton Saints U17 Academy, 24-22, and London Wasps U17 Academy side, 31-26, as they get more and more accustomed to playing at a higher standard.

"It's definitely been a very steep learning curve and playing against U17 Academy sides has been a very good test for us as we are U16s," admits Shortland.

"We've certainly matched them but we must now finish the chances we are creating.

"We've got to help the lads to mature and improve their standard of play and in the way they are trying new styles of play and to generate their own individual styles based on the key principles of continuity and possession.

"We are trying to play a positive style of rugby where we create an environment to make the right decision.

"We've got some very good players involved and it's a very positive squad and this tournament helps turn boys into men."

And, as they do not play all of the teams taking part and there is no outright winner the emphasis of the competition is more on how the teams and individuals perform rather than any win at all cost attitude.

"We are the stepping stone to the next level of international rugby," underlines Shortland. "We are also the stepping stone to the professional game."

Shortland, now in his fourth year as head coach, is again joined by backs coach Mark Hanslip, while the forwards are in the capable hands of newcomer to the coaching team, Biff Wareham.