Four Warriors players have been included in the England Under-20s Elite Player Squad for this season’s Under-20s Six Nations and the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Argentina in late May and early June.
Blindside flanker Ted Hill, who has already been capped by England at senior level, has been included in the 32-strong squad along with his Three Pears Warriors Academy team-mates Kai Owen, James Scott and Ollie Lawrence.
Hill, lock Scott and centre Lawrence have already been capped by England at Under-20s level but loosehead prop, who made his Warriors debut as a replacement in this season’s European Challenge Cup win over Stade Francais in Paris, is an international newcomer.
The squad will be coached by Steve Bates, Jim Mallinder, Mark Hopley and Richard Whiffin.
“Selecting the 32-player squad was a very difficult task which reflects the quality of the group. We have several players with Premiership experience and that speaks volumes of how good they are. The expectation for us now is to raise the standard and quality of performance from last season’s group and for the players to continue to develop in this environment,” Bates said.
“We used close to 40 players in last year’s Six Nations, there will always be injuries and those outside of the 32 will still be required so my message to them is to stay fit, stay interested and to continue playing well.
“One of the big things about U20s rugby is that we want the players to drive the game and environment we create. These are the best players at their age and we want them to perform like it on and off the pitch.
“The wider group will meet on Sunday and during the week we need to set some parameters around how we want to play, for the players to continue to get to know each other on and off the pitch so it becomes instinctive when they play, as well as to develop our set piece and defensive organisation.”
England Under-20s open their Six Nations campaign against Ireland at the Irish Independent Park in Cork on Friday February 1.
They then take on France on Saturday February 9 at Sandy Park, Exeter before heading for the ZipWorld Stadium in Colwyn Bay where they face Wales on Friday February 22.
Goldington Road, home of Bedford Blues, will stage England’s home match against Italy on March 8 with the final match against Scotland on February 15 at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.
The squad will meet at Bisham Abbey this Sunday for a week-long training camp, before coming meeting again on January 27 ahead of their Six Nations Championship opener.
Forwards
Ollie Adkins (Gloucester), Josh Basham (Durham University), Will Capon (Bristol Bears), Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks), James Dun (Bristol Bears), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors), Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester), Joel Kpoku (Saracens), Samson Ma’asi (Northampton Saints), Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors), James Scott (Worcester Warriors), Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Willis (Wasps).
Backs
Tom De Glanville (Bath), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks), Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie), Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers), Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish), Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons), Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors), Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Gus Warr (Sale Sharks), Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks).