England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft has backed his ‘closer’ Lucas Friday to make an impact from the off as he makes his first start at this level against France on Friday.
England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft has made two changes to his side for the second-round meeting with France in Bath on Friday.
Ahead of facing the Irish in the U20s opener, the son of ex-Dragons centre Sione and younger brother of Wales women’s international Sisilia has tackled the RugbyPass Getting to Know Q&A.
Northampton Saints flanker Henry Pollock is set to start for England U20 on Thursday against Ireland U20 at Cork's Virgin Media Park in the first match of their U20 Six Nations title defence.
The defending age-grade Six Nations and World Rugby Championship holders have retained the still-underage Josh Bellamy, Jack Bracken, Ben Coen, Kane James and George Timmins while also appointing Dave Walder, the ex-Newcastle boss, as an assistant.
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Steve Diamond is stunned his 18-year-old scrum-half Joe Davis has not been included in England's U20 elite player squad.
It was last March when the class of 2023/24 clinched the championship with a win away in France and they followed up that success by securing World Cup glory in July in South Africa.
The English are in Eastern Europe for a two-match rehearsal ahead of the upcoming Junior World Championship in Cape Town.
Coventry taught England U20s a valuable lesson as the club marked their 150th anniversary in style at Butts Park Arena.
Bath and England U18 flanker George Timmins has been spotted training with England this week in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage as Steve Borthwick's side prepare to face Samoa on Saturday in Lille.