England U20 side named for JWC

England Under 20s coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel have named their 28-man squad ahead of the IRB Junior World Championship in France, which kicks off with a game against their French hosts on June 5.
The squad contains players with a huge amount of Aviva Premiership, A-League and RFU Championship experience and head coach Walshe is pleased with the players at his disposal as they look to move on from last season’s seventh-place finish.
Eight members of the squad played in last year’s competition while the likes of Jack Nowell, Henry Slade (both Exeter), Ben Howard (Worcester), Jack Clifford (Harlequins) and Ollie Devoto (Bath) have all played Aviva Premiership rugby over recent weeks.
The side go into the tournament in good spirit following their Six Nations campaign which saw them retain their trophy in dramatic fashion in Wales.
Walshe said: “We enjoyed a good Six Nations and on the back of that, competition for places has been high and some good players have missed out. However, we’re very pleased with the 28 selected. The games come thick and fast in this tournament, we’ve got a very tough group but we’re excited by that challenge.”
After France on June 5, England face title-holders South Africa (June 9) before coming up against USA (June 13), who are competing in the JWC for the first time in five years.
Walshe added: “All our attention is on that first game against the French, we did well against them in the Six Nations but this will be a totally different game. It’s one we’re looking forward to.”
England Under20 squad:
Forwards: Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Hankin (Saracens), Alec Hepburn (London Wasps), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Nathan Morris (London Wasps), Tom Price (Leicester Tigers), David Sisi (London Irish), Tom Smallbone (London Irish), Scott Spurling (Saracens), Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby), Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers), Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs: Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby), Alex Day (Northampton Saints), Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Will Hooley (Northampton Saints), Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors), Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Harry Sloan (Harlequins), Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints), Anthony Watson (London Irish).
Fixtures:
Game 1 – England v France, Wednesday June 5, 17:45 (GMT)
Game 2 – England v South Africa, Sunday June 9, 15:45 (GMT)
Game 3 – England v USA, Thursday June 13, 17:45 (GMT)
Semi-final – Tuesday June 18
Final – Sunday June 23