Hill and Owen named in England Under-20s World Championship squad

Warriors pair Ted Hill and Kai Owen have been named in England’s 28-strong squad for the World Rugby Under-20s Championship in Argentina next month.

Flanker Hill has already been capped by England at senior level and captained England Under-20s in their recent Six Nations match against France.

Hill is one of nine players in England’s squad who have played in the Junior World Cup before.

Loosehead prop Owen has made rapid progress this season having been taken back onto the Three Pears Warriors Academy after he impressed playing for the Cavaliers at the end of last season.

He made his Warriors debut off the bench in the memorable European Challenge Cup victory over Stade Francais in October and won his first England cap at any level during this season’s Under-20 Six Nations.

A dynamic all-round performance in the recent victory over South Africa at Coventry booked Owen’s passage to Argentina.

England, runners-up last year, have been drawn in Pool B  and will face Ireland (June 4), Italy (June 8) and Australia (June 12).

The knockout stages are on June 17 with finals day on June 22.

England, who have won the competition three times, last lifted the Championship in 2016.

England Head Coach Steve Bates said: “Choosing 28 players from the 45 we have capped this season has been incredibly tough so it’s a pretty good achievement for these players to be selected for the tournament and they should be incredibly proud of their inclusion.

“The U20 Championship gives them a chance to pit themselves against the best players in the world at their own age group in an international competition before heading into senior rugby, so is an important stage in their development.

“For a lot of these players it will be a unique experience to go to Argentina and play in a tournament of this stature and I know they will be relishing the challenge. They are very lucky to be representing England and will be looking to do their country proud and continue our successful history in the competition.

“We were slightly disappointed with our consistency during the Six Nations and we know we have a lot of work to do, but we have a very good and experienced group of players and if we can keep them fit then we feel we are going to be very competitive in Argentina.”

England Under-20s squad 

Olly Adkins (Gloucester Rugby)
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps) – Bloxham School
Josh Basham (Newcastle Falcons)
Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks)
Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks)
Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby)
Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
Samson Ma’asi (Northampton Saints)
Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors)
Alfie Petch (Exeter Chiefs)
Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
Arron Reed (Sale Sharks)
Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby)
Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
Manu Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Willis (Wasps)

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