Eighteen-year-old Huw Taylor has been named in this season’s England Under 20 Elite Player Squad.
The 32-man group will compete in the Under 20 Six Nations championship in the New Year – kicking off against Wales – before heading to Italy to defend their IRB Junior World Championship trophy next June.
The Warriors number-eight has been in impressive form for Worcester Cavaliers this season, helping his side to four wins from four in the Aviva A League.
He was rewarded with his Warriors debut earlier this month against Nottingham in the B&I Cup, following that up with another fine performance in last weekend’s victory over Munster A.
The back-rower has played the full 80 minutes of every Cavaliers and Warriors match he has featured in this season, and has been on the winning side every time.
He said: “I’m over the moon about this international call-up and I hope I get chances to show what I can do.
“It is an exciting opportunity and it will allow me to push myself in an international environment alongside the best young players in the country.
“I feel my game has developed a lot this season thanks to all the support of the club’s backroom staff and I will be continuing to work hard to progress further.”
The England Under 20 side was set-up in 2007 to replace the England Under 21 and has gone on to enjoy remarkable success.
In 70 matches played, the side has won 56 and lost just 14 – a win percentage of 80. The Under 20s have won four Six Nations titles (2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013) and two Junior World Championship titles (2013, 2014).
There have been 22 Under 20 graduates capped at Test level – with Harlequins hooker Joe Gray the most recent.
Coach Jon Callard added: “It’s an exciting time to be involved with English rugby and we are all looking forward to working with the players in the squad.
“We have a good blend of guys with experience from last season and new talent emerging from across the player pathway.
“There is always huge competition at this age grade and with a lot of players getting first team rugby at their clubs it’s tough to narrow that down to a group of 32. We expect players to continue to push for inclusion.”
England Under 20 squad:
Forwards
Seb Adeniran-Olule (Harlequins)
Joe Batley (Gloucester Rugby)
Charlie Beckett (Leicester Tigers)
Lewis Boyce (Yorkshire Carnegie)
James Chisholm (Harlequins)*
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)*
Jake Farnworth (Leicester Tigers)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Rugby)
Paul Hill (Yorkshire Carnegie)*
Jack Innard (Exeter Chiefs)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Will Owen (Leicester Tigers)
Ciaran Parker (Sale Sharks)
Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs)
Huw Taylor (Worcester Warriors)
Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins)
Jack Walker (Yorkshire Carnegie)*
Will Witty (Newcastle Falcons)
Backs
Max Clark (Bath Rugby)
Lloyd Evans (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Fowlie (London Irish)
Tom Griffiths (Saracens)
Rory Jennings (Bath Rugby)
Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints)
James Mitchell (Sale Sharks)
Aaron Morris (Saracens)*
Piers O'Conor (Wasps)
Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)*
George Perkins (Saracens)
Taylor Prell (Yorkshire Carnegie)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens)*
Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs)
* denotes 2014 JWC winner
England Under 20 Six Nations fixtures
Saturday 7 February – Wales U20 v England U20, Colwyn Bay, kick-off TBC
Friday 13 February – England U20 v Italy U20, Plymouth Albion, kick-off 7.45pm
Friday 27 February – Ireland U20 v England U20, Venue and kick-off TBC
Friday 13 March – England U20 v Scotland U20, Darlington Mowden Park, kick-off 5.30pm
Friday 20 March – England U20 v France U20, Brighton American Express Community Stadium, kick-off 7.55pm