Exiles wing added to Eng U20 squad
London Irish wing Marcus Watson has been added to the England U20 squad heading for next month’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.
The 18-year-old replaces Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers) who has been ruled out of the five match tournament with a back injury.
Watson had previously been capped by England at U16 and U18 levels and scored two tries in two appearances at the end of this season’s U20 Six Nations, touching down in the 27-6 win against Scotland on his debut and in the 47-33 win over France.
“Will’s been struggling with a stress fracture in his back since February,” said head coach Mark Mapletoft. “We’d wanted to give him as much time as possible to get it right but he’s had a couple of setbacks and the change had to be made.
“Marcus came into the side and did well in the last two games of the Six Nations. He was unlucky to miss out on a place in the squad in the first place. He’s back in now and I’m sure he’ll take his opportunity.”
England are going to the Junior World Championship as No.2 seeds after being beaten by New Zealand in the 2008 and 2009 finals in Swansea and Tokyo.
Based in Rosario, they face hosts Argentina (June 5), Ireland (June 9) and France (June 13) in the pool stages before semi finals and finals days on June 17 and June 21.
The squad includes five survivors from last year’s tournament in leading points scorer Tom Homer (London Irish), fly half Rory Clegg (Harlequins) and an entire front row in the shape of hooker Jamie George (Saracens) and props Joe Marler (Harlequins) and Shaun Knight (Gloucester).
England U20 squad
Forwards: Arthur Ellis (London Wasps), Jamie George (Saracens), Jamie Gibson (London Irish), Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons), Calum Green (Leicester Tigers), Lee Imiolek (Sale Sharks), Shaun Knight (Gloucester), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie), Mako Vunipola (Bristol) Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons), Jackson Wray (Saracens).
Backs: Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Tom Casson (Harlequins), Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons), Rory Clegg (Harlequins), Charlie Davies (Stade Francais), Andrew Forsyth (Leicester Tigers), Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers), Tom Homer (London Irish), Jonny May (Gloucester), Sam Smith (Harlequins), Christian Wade (London Wasps), Marcus Watson (London Irish).
