Sevens star Wade in Eng U20 squad
England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft is full of enthusiasm about his side mounting a serious challenge for the world title at the IRB U20 World Championship.
Mapletoft on Tuesday named his 26-man squad for the tournament in Argentina in June, where they face the host nation, Ireland and France in the pool stage.
England have reached the last two U20 WC finals – beaten by New Zealand in both – with players of the calibre of Leicester Tigers scrumhalf Ben Youngs and Northampton Saints lock Courtney Lawes catapulted into Martin Johnson’s senior squad on the back of their rise through the junior ranks.
This year’s U20 squad includes six survivors from 2009 in hooker Jamie George (Saracens), props Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby) and Joe Marler (Harlequins), flyhalf Rory Clegg (Harlequins), wing Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers) and fullback Tom Homer (London Irish), who was the top scorer at last year’s tournament in Japan with 68 points.
Also called up is 18-year-old London Wasps wing Christian Wade, who has touched down 19 tries for England in the IRB World Sevens Series this season.
Three players won places after emerging in the latter stages of the U20 Six Nations. Versatile Saracens loose forward George Kruis came off the bench against Italy and Ireland; Leicester Tigers centre Andrew Forsyth was an instant hit in the wins against Scotland and France; and Stade Francais scrumhalf Charlie Davies underlined his Top 14 form against France in Saint Nazaire.
England finished second on points difference in the U20 Six Nations behind the Irish, but with all their Premiership players available they signed off in style with a record points haul in the 47-33 victory in France.
Mapletoft said: “The way we finished the Six Nations with some of our attacking play makes it hard not to be enthused and the players not involved at the back end of the tournament – like Gloucester’s Freddie Burns and Jonny May – have really bounced back fantastically well. You’ve got to have players in form.
“The forwards performed consistently well, so that part of selection was fairly straightforward. The backs were a little bit more complicated after guys came in from outside the squad and did well, and other guys have picked up some good game time with their clubs. Overall we’ve got a really good balance.”
Second seeds England are based in Rosario for their three Pool B games, starting with a high profile clash with Argentina at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque on June 5 before facing Ireland (June 9) and France (June 13). The semifinal and final rounds take place on June 17 and 20.
Mapletoft added: “The group will be fascinating with three very difficult matches. In the Six Nations we lost to Ireland, then beat France quite comfortably, and Argentina at home is supposed to be our ‘easiest’ game! We’ll have to be very strong. Whoever wins our group will be really battle-hardened going into the semi finals.”
England U20 squad:
Forwards: Arthur Ellis, Jamie George, Jamie Gibson, Alex Gray, Calum Green, Lee Imiolek, Shaun Knight, George Kruis, Joe Marler, Charlie Matthews, Jacob Rowan, Mako Vunipola, Will Welch, Jackson Wray.
Backs: Freddie Burns, Tom Casson, Tom Catterick, Rory Clegg, Charlie Davies, Andrew Forsyth, Sam Harrison, Tom Homer, Will Hurrell, Jonny May, Sam Smith, Christian Wade.
