HEAD coach Mark Mapletoft has named a 50-man England U20 elite playing squad for the new season.
After winning both the Six Nations and World Championship last term, Mapletoft said: “As this year has shown, it’s an incredibly exciting time to be an England fan. The ability to select more players this year not only shines a light on the breadth of talent in this country, but it also ensures these young men receive the best possible experiences and learnings to progress as rugby players and as people.
“Our determination to constantly evolve and front up was a testament to the character fostered by last year’s group. Whilst their cycle concludes, the key principles we implement throughout our pathway are a continuous process and I have every confidence this squad can replicate the successes of their predecessors.”
The squad includes 12 previously capped U20 inter nationals who achieved the ‘double’ silverware and return for another campaign; Benjamin Coen and Kane James of Exeter, Newcastle‘s Jacob Oliver and Ben Redshaw, Archie McParland and Henry Pollock (both Northampton), Saracens trio Olamide Sodeke, Jack Bracken and Angus Hall, Vilikesa Sela (Bath), and Josh Bellamy and Lucas Friday of Harlequins.
A further 32 players have previous pathway caps including U18 captain and U18 Academy League winner with Bath, Connor Treacey.
ENGLAND U20 ELITE PLAYER SQUAD
Forwards: Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton), Charlie Barker (Saracens), Oscar Beckerleg (Exeter), Thomas Burrow (Sale), Tom Dye (Northampton), Lucas Gulley (Exeter), Reggie Hammick (Saracens), Kane James (Exeter), Seb Kelly (Sale), Jack Lightbown (Sale), Reuben Logan (Northampton), Alfie Longstaff (Sale), Josh Mann (Exeter), Ralph McEachran (Sale), Jacob Oliver (Newcastle), Henry Pollock (Northampton), Tye Raymont (Sale), Oliver Scola (Northampton), Vilikesa Sela (Bath), Olamide Sodeke (Saracens), Jimmy Staples (Harlequins), Ollie Streeter (Harlequins), George Timmins (Bath), Connor Treacey (Bath), Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath), Charlie West (Saracens), Samuel Williams (Leicester) Backs: Nicholas Allison (Exeter), Josh Bellamy (Harlequins), Jack Bracken (Saracens), Conor Byrne (Harlequins), Benjamin Coen (Exeter), Ollie Davies (Sale), Lucas Friday (Harlequins), William Glister (Northampton), Charlie Griffin (Bath), Angus Hall (Saracens), Dom Hanson (Sale), Jack Kinder (Leicester), Nick Lilley (Exeter), Frank McMillan (Harlequins), Archie McParland (Northampton), Charlie Myall (Leicester), Gethin O’Callaghan (Bristol), Tyler Offiah (Bath), George Pearson (Leicester), Ben Redshaw (Newcastle), Campbell Ridl (Exeter), Jonny Weimann (Northampton), Toby Wilson (Sale)
