England name squad for U20 world title defence with 8 champions returning

England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft has named his 30-player squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship, with six uncapped players in the squad.

England will arrive in Italy as reigning champions, and will be led by Sale Sharks lock Tom Burrow and Newcastle Falcons’ Gloucester-bound full-back Ben Redshaw.

The six uncapped players in the squad, Alfie Longstaff, Seb Kelly, Noah Caluori, Asa Stewart-Harris, Will Knight, Ollie Streeter and Sam Williams, all featured in the recent warm-up victories over Wales and Georgia, though they were uncapped fixtures.

Redshaw is one of eight players – Josh Bellamy, Jack Bracken, Ben Coen, Kane James, Junior Kpoku, Vilikesa Sela and Olamide Sodeke – that featured in the victorious world championship campaign in South Africa last year.

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“We’re very proud to announce our squad this week, the staff and I feel we are best prepared for the challenge ahead in Italy with this strong cohort,” Mapletoft said.

“Over the course of the last three months, there’s been a renewed desire shown in our U19 and U20 games that we know will excite England fans.

“Our attitude and ambitions have reset, with our primary focus of making lifelong memories with a special group that we know will demand the highest expectations of each other.”

England U20 Men’s squad
Forwards
Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Tom Burrow (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Louie Gulley (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, 13 caps)
Alfie Longstaff (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Ralph McEachran (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Tye Raymont (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, 14 caps)
Ollie Streeter (Harlequins, uncapped)
George Timmins (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
Sam Williams (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Backs
Nic Allison (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps)
Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, 12 caps)
Jack Bracken (Saracens, 8 caps)
Noah Caluori (Saracens, uncapped)
Ben Coen (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps)
Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Tyler Offiah (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, 8 caps)
Campbell Ridl (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens, uncapped)
Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)