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England U20s announce squad for World Rugby U20 Championship
The England U20s added some impetus to their season last month when they emphatically beat their South African counterparts, 35-8, at Butts Park Arena in Coventry.
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The result followed a below par Six Nations from the group, who fell to defeat to Ireland in their opening game, as well as one-point loss to Wales in Colwyn Bay.
Despite having a strong pool of talent to pick from this season, England struggled to pull together players from a number of different clubs and get them firing consistently throughout the tournament, whilst they also suffered from a number of players being retained by their clubs for Gallagher Premiership duty.
The performance against South Africa was a far more cohesive display and will have given head coach Steven Bates plenty of headaches ahead of the 28-man squad announced today.
Up front, U18 sensation Alfie Barbeary has booked himself a place alongside fellow hookers Samson Ma’asi and Nic Dolly, whilst Bates has also opted for three tighthead props, with Marcus Street, Joe Heyes and Alfie Petch all heading out to Argentina later this month.
England senior international Ted Hill is included, as is Harlequins regular Marcus Smith and fast-rising Saracens lock Joel Kpoku. All three were involved in the World Rugby U20 Championship last season and are joined by fellow veterans Josh Basham, Aaron Hinkley, Tom Willis and Fraser Dingwall.
Sale Sharks‘ Cameron Redpath is also included, with an ACL rupture having denied him a shot at a senior England cap last summer, whilst other Premiership contributors such as Richard Capstick, Tom Seabrook, Arron Reed, Sam Maunder and Alex Coles are all included.
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Among the players ruled out through injury are Ollie Lawrence and Cadan Murley, both of whom have been making an impact in the Premiership this season with Worcester Warriors and Harlequins respectively.
“Choosing 28 players from the 45 we have capped this season has been incredibly tough, so it’s a pretty good achievement for these players to be selected for the tournament and they should be incredibly proud of their inclusion,” said Bates.
“The U20 Championship gives them a chance to pit themselves against the best players in the world at their own age group in an international competition before heading into senior rugby, so is an important stage in their development.
“For a lot of these players it will be a unique experience to go to Argentina and play in a tournament of this stature and I know they will be relishing the challenge. They are very lucky to be representing England and will be looking to do their country proud and continue our successful history in the competition.
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“We were slightly disappointed with our consistency during the Six Nations and we know we have a lot of work to do, but we have a very good and experienced group of players and if we can keep them fit then we feel we are going to be very competitive in Argentina.”
England will kick off their bid for a seventh-straight successive final appearance by taking on Ireland on June 4th, before facing Italy and Australia in the subsequent rounds of the group stage.
England U20s squad: Olly Adkins (Gloucester Rugby), Alfie Barbeary (Wasps) – Bloxham School, Josh Basham (Newcastle Falcons), Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks), Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks), Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors), Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby), Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons), Joel Kpoku (Saracens), Samson Ma’asi (Northampton Saints), Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs), Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors), Alfie Petch (Exeter Chiefs), Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs), Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs), Manu Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Willis (Wasps).
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Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments