England U20 Squad 2017

First topic message reminder :

England U20 make four changes to EPS
England open campaign against France in Exeter
Learn more about England's fixtures for the Six Nations, here
England Under 20 have made four changes to their 32-man Elite Player Squad (EPS) ahead of the 2017 Six Nations.

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-under-name-six-nations-squad/

Tom Parton (London Irish), Jake Pope (Sale Sharks) and Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby) come into the squad as injury replacements for Ralph Adams-Hale (Saracens), Charlie Capps (Yorkshire Carnegie) and Ali Crossdale (Saracens).

Winger Paolo Odogwu (Sale Sharks) makes way for Saracens’ Dominic Morris as the fourth change to the squad.

Morris and Pope have the experience of featuring in last year’s Six Nations and, along with Parton and Seville, joined the rest of the group for a training camp in Loughborough last week as the team prepare to face France U20 at Exeter’s Sandy Park on Saturday 4 February (12:00 kick-off).  

The EPS includes five players who have featured in the Aviva Premiership this season while 10 of the squad have already been capped at this level.

England visit Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay for their second match of the tournament to face defending champions Wales before a home fixture against Italy at Darlington Mowden Park on Friday 24 February at 7:45pm.

England’s penultimate game of the Six Nations is against Scotland on Saturday 11 March at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, kick off 6:15pm. The side then finish their campaign in Dublin, Ireland.

All of the home England U20 Six Nations fixtures in 2017 will be shown live on Sky Sports.

England U20 Elite Player Squad 2017:

Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins), Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Theo Brophy Clews (London Irish), Will Butler (Worcester Warriors), Josh Caulfield (Exeter Chiefs), Justin Clegg (Worcester Warriors), Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ollie Dawe (Bristol Rugby), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors), Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Curtis Langdon (Sale Sharks), Max Malins (Saracens), Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Dominic Morris (Saracens), Josh Morris (Saracens), Joe Mullis (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nay (Saracens), Tom Parton (London Irish), Jake Pope (Sale Sharks), Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby), Jamie Shillcock (Worcester Warriors), Jacob Umaga (Wasps), Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie), Zac Xiourouppa (Worcester Warriors).

England U20 Six Nations fixtures:
England v France: Saturday 4th February – Sandy Park, Exeter (KO 12:00pm)
Wales v England: Friday 10th February – Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay (KO 7:15pm)
England v Italy: Friday 24th February – Darlington Mowden Park (KO 7:45pm)
England v Scotland: Saturday 11th March – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton (KO 6:15pm)
Ireland v England: Friday 17th March – Donnybrook Stadium, (KO 6:00pm)

By Position:

Props:

Ollie Dawe (Bristol Rugby)
Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
Josh Morris (Saracens)
Jake Pope (Sale Sharks)
Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)

Hooker

Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
Curtis Langdon (Sale Sharks)
Joe Mullis (Gloucester Rugby)

Second Row:

Josh Caulfield (Exeter Chiefs)
Justin Clegg (Worcester Warriors)
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)

Back-row:

Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby)
Jack Nay (Saracens)
Zac Xiourouppa (Worcester Warriors)

Scrum Halves:

Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby)

Stand Off:

Theo Brophy Clews (London Irish)
Jamie Shillcock (Worcester Warriors)

Centres:

Will Butler (Worcester Warriors)
Dominic Morris (Saracens)
Jacob Umaga (Wasps)

Wings:

Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins)
Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish)
Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie)

Fullback:

Max Malins (Saracens)
Tom Parton (London Irish)

I reckon that this is one of the most interesting groups we've had in a while.  A large number of them are getting regular game time for their clubs.  In my opinion the ones to particualry look out for are Nick Isekwe, The Curry Twins, Zach Mercer, Jack Maunder, the two fly halfs, Joe Cokanasiga and Jacob Umaga.  Thinking about it, this is one of our stronger age grade groups, I'm expecting good things from these guys.

Yep, lots of talent in the playmaking positions this year on top of the obvious back row strength. Can afford for a few to fall by the wayside and still pretty much guarantee a few will make it.

Would add Parton to the options at ten. Played there a few times for the U18s and plays his club rugby with his DR club there. A few clips at 1.33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeQTWRqonUQ

So England could put out an entire backline made up exclusively of talented FHs. I guess with 14 academies, and with most of their clubs taking them seriously, this sort of thing was always possible, but it is still exciting to see it.

Some these may settle in other positions though. Shillcock has impressed me at fullback in the past for instance.

Speaking of that U18s side I noticed that Bryan Redpath's son was playing for us. There are a few other Scots in wider U18s squad. Quite a compliment if you think about it, other nations sending their players to us for training. We are getting like a finishing school!

Another comprehensive performance against a Scottish side who defended bravely. The english AP players are leading from the front and initiating the plays that every opposition thus far, have not been able to deal with.

This squad clearly has plenty of talent, notably at halfbacks and back row and will obviously be looking for a clean sweep and a maximum 25 points next weekend.
A lot of serious potential regardless, to watch out for over the next few years.

A lot less fluent than in some of the other games, but still put together some fantastic pieces of play. Assuming pretty much everyone is available next week it will be interesting to see who is picked. I was impressed with Davies (yet another lock!).

Cumbrian wrote:Speaking of that U18s side I noticed that Bryan Redpath's son was playing for us. There are a few other Scots in wider U18s squad. Quite a compliment if you think about it, other nations sending their players to us for training. We are getting like a finishing school!

He's apparently very good. It is interesting that England are happy to develop players who will clearly choose to represent another country.

Perhaps it is time to designate the U20s as England's second team as Wales do. It would mean any player who plays for U20s would be committed to England.

The Saxons hardly play any more anyway.

Saxons really should get more fixtures......but not sure if the clubs would allow all the releases.
Allowing them to compete in the European tier 2 comp would be really good, and probably satisfy a lot of the developing nations.
U20s are doing great as they are.....6N games and the JWC ensures that there are plenty of games to showcase talent.

Minimal changes this week with only four changes.

The Curry brothers play in the back row for the first time in the tournament along with Mercer as captain.
England have notched up 175 points and conceded 59 in the first four games.
Focus this week has been on managing the occasion for these young lads and concentrating on their roles.
Should be great entertainment - regardless of the result.

The team in full:

England U20 team to face Ireland U20:
15. Tom Parton (London Irish), 14. Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish), 13. Dominic Morris (Saracens), 12. Will Butler (Worcester Warriors), 11. Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins), 10. Max Malins (Saracens), 9. Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby), 1. Ollie Dawe (Bristol Rugby), 2. Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby), 3. Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby), 4. Jack Nay (Saracens), 5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), 6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), 7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), 8. Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) captain.

Replacements:
16. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), 17. Ralph Adams-Hale (Saracens), 18. Joseph Morris (Worcester Warriors), 19. Justin Clegg (Worcester Warriors), 20. Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), 22. Theo Brophy Clews (London Irish), 23. Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie).


I believe the match is opn Sky Sports Mix at 6:00pm tonight.

Ooh, glad I checked this thread. Didn't realise it was an early kick off!

Really looking forward to this game

That back row

That's a serious U20s team, especially for the 6 Nations where it can be harder to get your hands on eligible players. Good to have Aspland-Robinson and Isiekwe back in

That old line about players being in two places at once comes to mind