Warriors trio Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence and James Scott have been named in the England Under-20s squad for Friday’s Under-20s Six Nations opener against Ireland at the Irish Independent Park in Cork (kick-off 7.15pm).
Blindside flanker Hill will start with lock Scott and centre Lawrence named among the replacements. All three are members of the Three Pears Warriors Academy.
Hill, who won a senior cap as a replacement against Japan at Twickenham in November, has been named as England’s vice-captain with Northampton centre Fraser Dingwall leading the side.
Hill is one of nine players in England’s starting XV who have been capped at this level and one of seven who played in last year’s World Rugby Under-20s Championship final in France.
England Head Coach Steve Bates said: “The message to the squad this week has been that this is a great opportunity for them to show how good they are at the start of another Six Nations campaign and they should play with confidence.
“This is a very exciting, talented group of players and they should not forget to play like it, we have to go out there on Friday and really express ourselves on the pitch but we know we have to respect the opposition who will be positive about their chances in this competition as well.
“This is a team full of experience, who are hugely talented and it is a shame we can only pick 15 as we’ve left out some very good players.
“The replacements will all be expected to make an impact on Friday, while the wider squad who will not be in Ireland, will also be required at various points in the competition and we need everyone to stay involved as they will play further down the line.”
England Under-20s
15 Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
14 Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
13 Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
12 Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
11 Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9 Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
1 Olly Adkins (Gloucester)
2 Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks)
3 Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
4 Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5 Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
6 Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7 Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester)
8 Tom Willis (Wasps)
Replacements:
16 Ben Atkins (London Irish)
17 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
18 Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19 James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
20 Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
21.Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie)
22 Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
23 Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors)