Ben Howard has been named in the 28-man England Under 20 squad by coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel ahead of their IRB Junior World Championship campaign 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 admitted he was 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 Howard, Jack Nowell, Jack Clifford, Ollie Devoto and Henry Slade have all played Aviva Premiership rugby over recent weeks.
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, Six Nations winners England face title-holders South Africa before coming up against USA, who are competing in the JWC for the first time in five years.
“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.”
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)
* Played in 2012 IRB Junior World Championship
IRB Junior World Championship schedule
All games live on Sky Sports HD
Game 1
England v France
Wednesday June 5, 17:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon
Game 2
England v South Africa
Sunday June 9, 15:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon
Game 3
England v USA
Thursday June 13, 17:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon
Semi-final
Tuesday June 18
Final
Sunday June 23