Junior World Championships - England U20 Squad

England Under 20 squad for South Africa

01 May 2012

England Under 20 squad for South Africa trip
Competition for places has been high – Hunter

England Under 20 coaches Rob Hunter and Nick Walshe have named their 28-man squad ahead of the IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa, which kicks off against Italy on June 4.

The squad contains players with a huge amount of Aviva Premiership, A-League and RFU Championship experience, and Head Coach Hunter is pleased with the players at his disposal as they look to better last season’s second place finish.

“Competition for places has been high and some good players have missed out, however we’re very pleased with the 28 selected,” he said. “The games come thick and fast in this tournament, we’ve got a tough group and we’re excited by that challenge.”
England Under 20 Head Coach Rob Hunter

After Italy, Six Nations winners England face Ireland before coming up against hosts South Africa in Stellenbosch, one year after defeating the southern hemisphere nation 26-20.

Hunter added: "We have two huge games before we come up against South Africa, that game stands out for the experience of playing them in front of their home support. For now though all our attention is on that first game against Italy, each year they improve and we’ll need to be fully focused."

England U20 IRB Junior World Championship squad

Forwards

Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby)*
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Max Crumpton (Saracens)
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)*
George Merrick (Harlequins)
Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
Ben Nutley (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
David Sisi (London Irish)
Sam Twomey (Harlequins)*
Chris Walker (Leeds Carnegie)


Backs

Will Addison (Sale Sharks)
Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues)
Tommy Bell (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Elliott (Northampton Saints)
Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby)*
Ben Ransom (Saracens)*
Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)*
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Spencer (Saracens)
Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
Marland Yarde (London Irish)*

* Played in 2011 IRB Junior World Championship
IRB Junior World Championship schedule

All games live on Sky Sports HD

Game 1
England v Italy
Monday June 4, 15:45 (GMT)
University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town

Game 2
England v Ireland
Friday June 8, 17:45 (GMT)
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch

Game 3
South Africa v England
Tuesday June 12, 17:45 (GMT)
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch

Semi-final
Sunday June 17

Final
Friday June 22

Notes of Point:

Quite a few of the 6N side which was very impressive is also missing. Anthony Watson, the new billy whizz, is currently injured and will not participate. More importantly, George Ford has been omitted from the side. He's ALSO been omitted from the senior side, as the reason being the England Elite Coaching Staff want him to do Physical Conditioning to bring him to the right level so he's ready for International Rugby next season. Shame he doesn't get game time (He's played 18 times for Leicester this season regardless), but if it benefits him and he can reach the level he should attain, then it's the right move. Tom Youngs and Rob Buchanan, the 2 up and coming hookers, are making vast improvements. Both are working with Si Hardy, who was the coach who got me my level 1 coaching badge. He's the Elite RFU Throwing Coach, and they are being very intensely trained. If done right, those 2 are going to be top class, and tough buggers.

The JWC Side:

Very good. Probably, the no 1 side (like last year), going to the tournament. Scarily it's probably a second string side as well, which shows the REAL depth we've got coming through at the moment. The best bit is, the Half backs. We're depleted in the Half back positions with what we could put out, and STILL we have 2 sets of seasoned 18/19 AP kids, Ben Spencer, Dan Robson, Tom Heathcote, Henry Slade. That is stupid depth. We're looking good. The only real task is SA, who probably are the 2nd best side in the tournament, are at home, and are in our group, in the final game. Mammoth, mammoth match. Last year the JWC was amazing, and I expect a similar tournament in SA. It's going to be good. We're the favourites, with SA and NZ (Not as strong this year as they held talent back, but they are the baby blacks regardless, they are ALL good players). The only bonus from our point of view is Eben Etzabeth and Johan Goosen are not in the Saffa line ups, so that should give us the edge, just.


It's going to be an amazing tournament guys, look forward to it .