England's 2016 U20 World Champion side - where are they now?
Having enjoyed plenty of success at U20 level in recent years, England have had the luxury of an exciting pool of players to select from under both Stuart Lancaster and Eddie Jones.
The likes of Maro Itoje, Elliot Daly, Billy Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler and Anthony Watson are just a handful of players from the 2011-2014 period of English age-grade rugby who are now regulars in the senior squad and have played prominent roles in the improving fortunes of the national team since 2015.
The England U20s’ last title, in 2016, saw them thump Ireland in the final, but as of yet, it has failed to produce the same number of difference-makers at the senior level as their opponents that day, with Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Jacob Stockdale all playing valuable roles in Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam this year.
We look at the XV that took to the field against Ireland in 2016, see where they are now and what their international prospects look like moving forward.
- Max Malins
The versatile fly-half/full-back is impressing in limited appearances at Saracens and has earned an extension to his contract in north London. Sitting behind Owen Farrell and Alex Lozowski on the depth chart is an unenviable position to be in, but he is progressing well and making the most of the opportunities that come his way. To really push for international recognition, he’ll either need to move club or supplant Lozowski as Farrell’s deputy.
- Sam Aspland-Robinson
Injuries have played their part in preventing Aspland-Robinson from making the breakthrough at Harlequins and now he has the exciting talent of Gabriel Ibitoye to compete with, as well as fellow senior academy members Max Coyle and Cadan Murley. If he can stay fit and feature in the Premiership, don’t rule out international caps in the future, but it’s currently a competitive position in English rugby.
- Joe Marchant
Another Harlequins player who has suffered with injuries, although Marchant has already made the breakthrough into Quins’ first-choice XV. Injury denied him England caps during the summer tour of Argentina last summer, whilst another injury has marred his 2017/18 campaign, but he has been looking sharp since recovering from that in the last few weeks. Don’t rule him out from touring South Africa this summer with the seniors.
- Johnny Williams
This powerful inside centre is on the radar of both Wales and Ireland, too, but what looked like a career destined for early England caps has been hindered somewhat by London Irish’s relegation to the Championship and their struggles this year back in the top tier. He hasn’t quite made the “leap” yet but is still a very talented player who offers something different to most of England’s options at 12. Expect him to leave Irish this summer should they be relegated to the Championship again.
- Matt Gallagher
Another player on the cusp for Saracens, with the versatile back-three player regularly impressing in the A League and the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The departure of Nathan Earle and the retirement of Chris Wyles has been mitigated by the arrivals of Alex Lewington and David Strettle, so it remains to be seen if more playing time will open up next season. With the depth of options Saracens have, he may be a player best suited to moving away for more playing time.
- Harry Mallinder
The, now, full-back has been involved in a couple of England training camps and will be well aware of what it is he needs to improve to see regular playing time with the senior side. His range, kicking game, handling and physical attributes are all very well-suited to playing full-back at the international level and if Northampton Saints can shore up his defensive work, then international caps are likely to follow.
- Max Green
Bath snapped up Green from Yorkshire Carnegie earlier this season but having just secured the signing of Will Chudley for next season, as well as retaining Kahn Fotuali’i, game time could be slim for the scrum-half. England’s nine jersey could be wide open after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, so Green has time on his side, but there are plenty of contenders to fill the spot, such as Dan Robson, Ben Spencer and Jack Maunder.
- Lewis Boyce
Like Mallinder, Boyce has been involved in larger England squads and is clearly highly thought of by Jones and the rest of the England coaching staff. He is moving into a more prominent role with Quins now, having made the move from Yorkshire Carnegie, but with the likes of Mako Vunipola, Joe Marler, Ellis Genge, Alec Hepburn and Beno Obano about, predicting England caps anytime soon would be bold.
- Jack Singleton
A similar story to Boyce, really, with a mountain of competition to contend with for an England spot, such as Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tommy Taylor and Tom Dunn, not to mention current captain Dylan Hartley. Singleton did tour Argentina with England last summer, but Hartley played the full 80 minutes in both matches and the Worcester hooker remains, for now, uncapped.
- Billy Walker
The big tighthead is another player biding his time in the Saracens senior academy, with the likes of Vincent Koch and Juan Figallo ahead of him. Injuries have played their part in preventing him from making his breakthrough so far.
- Stan South
South has slowly risen through the ranks at Quins but is still largely resigned to opportunities in the A League and Anglo-Welsh Cup, the latter of which he put in performances of note this season and was shortlisted for the Breakthrough Player of the Year. English rugby is in fine fettle with its stock of locks and its hard to see a cap coming soon for South, for whom breaking into the regular Quins 23 will be the priority.
- Huw Taylor
A player of some promise for Worcester a couple of years ago, opportunities have been limited for the hybrid second and back-rower. He has decided to try his luck with the Dragons next season and will, presumably, be bidding to make the senior Wales squad, for whom he is also eligible.
- George Nott
Like Taylor, Nott can shift easily between the second and back-rows and is also Welsh-qualified, but he has recently signed a new deal with Sale Sharks. One of the more mobile rear five forwards in the Premiership, Nott is a potential mismatch nightmare for defences. If Sale can continue to rise up the league and Nott can nail down a spot in the XV, his international stock will rise.
- Will Evans
A player who may, were it not for injury, have an England cap already. Jones is a big fan of Evans and the openside has been on the Australian’s radar for a while now. A fractured eye socket has limited his opportunities for Leicester Tigers this season but if he can finish strongly and stay fit heading into the 2018/19 campaign, he is RWC bolter material.
- Callum Chick
Unfortunately for Chick, he hasn’t quite been able to make the breakthrough for Newcastle Falcons, with many teams at the Premiership level preferring the more dynamic options at No 8. He regularly impresses in the A League, Anglo-Welsh Cup and Challenge Cup, but has thus far struggled to break into the trio of Mark Wilson, Will Welch and Nili Latu.
Other notables:
Zach Mercer, in his first year of U20 eligibility in 2016, is currently right on the cusp of an England spot with Vunipola injured, whilst Wasps’ Jack Willis has been at the centre of a campaign for a call-up, such has been his form this season.
Ollie Thorley has been shining for Gloucester and can’t be too far off a call-up to an expanded England squad when he returns to fitness next season.
Theo Brophy Clews is developing into the kind of hybrid playmaker England rate in their midfield and may be another to leave Irish to pursue senior international ambitions, whilst Jack Walker has been beset by the worst injury luck since he made the move from Yorkshire Carnegie to Bath.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments