ENGLAND revised Under 20 Elite Player Squad
By RFU Press Office
January 11 2010
ENGLAND today announced their revised Under 20 Elite Player Squad for this season's major tournaments.
England Announce revised Under 20 EPS
Jonathan Joseph in action for England against Italy U18 last season
Head coach Mark Mapletoft has made two changes to the 32-man group taking part in the RBS U20 Six Nations that kicks off in February and in this summer's IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.
London Irish centre Jonathan Joseph and Harlequins lock Charlie Matthews, both 18, join an experienced group that includes 16 players capped at this level last season.
Matthews takes over from injured Harlequins teammate Joe Trayfoot and Joseph, who has appeared in the LV= Cup for his club side this season, replaces London Wasps full back Jack Wallace.
Mapletoft said: "The strength in depth we have is increasing. I'm really pleased with the game time our players have been getting in the Guinness Premiership and the support and buy-in from the clubs has been a real positive. Our objective is that it will give England more and more options at a senior level in the years to come.
"It is likely that we will be without [Sale Sharks lock] James Gaskell for at least part of the RBS U20 Six Nations and we were looking for someone with similar qualities for the lineout who's tall and athletic, and Charlie Matthews fits the bill.
"I was impressed with him playing for England Under 18 on their unbeaten tour to South Africa last year and in the Guinness A League. He played well for the England Academies Under 19 side against Australian Schools in December and impressed me and [Under 20 coach] Rob Hunter at last month's training camp in Portugal.
"I'm also really pleased for JJ [Joseph]. He had some areas to work on that we'd talked about in September and he's been very good this season.
"He's had a run-out for the first team in the LV= Cup, he's solid defensively, makes things happen with ball in hand and he's extremely coachable. He's stuck his hand up over the last few months and it's nice to be able to reward that."
England completed a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 and reached the last two IRB Junior World Championship finals in 2008 and 2009.
There are seven survivors from the 2009 JWC squad, including Gaskell, leading points scorer Tom Homer (London Irish), fly half Rory Clegg (Harlequins) and hooker Jamie George (Saracens).
The group also includes 18-year-old wing Christian Wade (London Wasps) who has appeared for England Sevens at the George and Dubai IRB Sevens Series tournaments this season.
The Under 20 squad has a week's training camp starting on January 18 before reassembling for the build-up to the opening game of the RBS U20 Six Nations against Wales which takes place at Gloucester on February 5 (7.45pm).
Tickets for the England U20 home games are priced from £10-15 for adults and £4-5 for juniors with concessions for Kingsholm season ticket holders and further discounts for supporters buying a double match package. Call the ticket hotline on 0871 871 8781 or visit www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/tickets
England Under 20 Elite Player Squad
Forwards
Joe Marler (Harlequins)**
Lee Imiolek (Sale Sharks)
Jamie George (Saracens)**
Arthur Ellis (London Wasps)*
Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby)**
Mako Vunipola (Bristol Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Calum Green (Leicester Tigers)
Danny Wright (Gloucester Rugby)*
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)**
Peter Elder (London Wasps)*
Charlie Matthews (Harlequins)
Jamie Gibson (London Irish)*
Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie)*
Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons)
Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons)
Jackson Wray (Saracens)
Backs
Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers)*
Jordi Pasqualin (Gloucester Rugby)*
Sam Stuart (Harlequins)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)*
Rory Clegg (Harlequins)**
Jake Sharp (Saracens)
Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons)
Tom Casson (Saracens)*
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Sam Smith (Harlequins)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)
Marcus Watson (London Irish)
Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers)**
Tom Homer (London Irish)**
**2009 Junior World Cup squad
*Capped in the 2009 RBS U20 Six Nations
England's RBS U20 Six Nations Fixtures
Feb 5: England U20 v Wales U20 (Gloucester, 7.45pm)
Feb 5: England U20 v Wales U20 (Gloucester, 7.45pm)
live on Sky Sports
Feb 12: Italy U20 v England U20 (San Dona di Piave, 6pm)
Feb 26: England U20 v Ireland U20 (Gloucester, 7.45pm)
Mar 12: Scotland U20 v England U20 (Firhill, 7.30pm)
Mar 21: France U20 v England U20 (St Nazaire, 3pm)
ENGLAND revised Under 20 Elite Player Squad
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 11/01/2010 15:24
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Re: ENGLAND revised Under 20 Elite Player Squad
Posted by: Slater582 (IP Logged)
Date: 21/01/2010 22:58
What's up with Wallace?
England U20 warm up with nine-try win
Posted by: England News (IP Logged)
Date: 22/01/2010 10:13
ENGLAND'S Under 20 side warmed up for the RBS U20 Six Nations by running in nine tries in a 61-7 win against Cambridge University last night.
Wing Sam Smith (Harlequins) - the son of former England international Simon Smith - finished with a hat-trick of tries with centres Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) and Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons) both scoring twice.
Replacement lock Charlie Matthews (Harlequins) and hooker Arthur Ellis (London Wasps) also touched down and fly half Jake Sharp (Saracens) kicked eight of his nine conversion attempts.
The Light Blues had opened the scoring at Grange Road through wing Dave Riley with Jamie Hood converting.
England were without several players capped last season including 2009 Junior World Championship finalists James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Rory Clegg (Harlequins) and Tom Homer (London Irish).
So the evening was a particularly encouraging one for head coach Mark Mapletoft as he prepares the side for the tournament opener against Wales at Gloucester on February 5 (7.45pm).
"We know strength in depth is the key to being competitive in the Six Nations and in the Junior World Championship," said Mapletoft.
"You're always a bit apprehensive and I didn't know how we'd go but I'm really pleased with the performance.
"Defensively after we'd conceded an early score we looked composed when we could have been rattled and nine tries was a good return.
"We still lack a bit of a cutting edge, making breaks and the last pass going to ground, but that's all part of the learning process and the development of these young athletes.
"Smithy took his chances well but it's hard to pick out any one individual. All 25 guys involved got on and all 25 put their hands up for a place in the first game against Wales."
England U20: Jonathan Joseph (London Irish); Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons), Sam Smith (Harlequins); Jake Sharp (Saracens), Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Jamie George (Saracens), Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Calum Green (Leicester Tigers), Danny Wright (Gloucester Rugby), Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons), Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie), Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons).
Replacements (all used): Arthur Ellis (London Wasps), Lee Imiolek (Sale Sharks), Mako Vunipola (Bristol Rugby), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Peter Elder (London Wasps), Jackson Wray (Saracens), Sam Stuart (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Christian Wade (London Wasps).
Edit:Notes: This amends Jonny May's club in copy
England scorers: Tries: Smith 3, May 2, Catterick 2, Matthews, Ellis. Conversions: Sharp 8.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:22:11:39:19 by England News.
Wing Sam Smith (Harlequins) - the son of former England international Simon Smith - finished with a hat-trick of tries with centres Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) and Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons) both scoring twice.
Replacement lock Charlie Matthews (Harlequins) and hooker Arthur Ellis (London Wasps) also touched down and fly half Jake Sharp (Saracens) kicked eight of his nine conversion attempts.
The Light Blues had opened the scoring at Grange Road through wing Dave Riley with Jamie Hood converting.
England were without several players capped last season including 2009 Junior World Championship finalists James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Rory Clegg (Harlequins) and Tom Homer (London Irish).
So the evening was a particularly encouraging one for head coach Mark Mapletoft as he prepares the side for the tournament opener against Wales at Gloucester on February 5 (7.45pm).
"We know strength in depth is the key to being competitive in the Six Nations and in the Junior World Championship," said Mapletoft.
"You're always a bit apprehensive and I didn't know how we'd go but I'm really pleased with the performance.
"Defensively after we'd conceded an early score we looked composed when we could have been rattled and nine tries was a good return.
"We still lack a bit of a cutting edge, making breaks and the last pass going to ground, but that's all part of the learning process and the development of these young athletes.
"Smithy took his chances well but it's hard to pick out any one individual. All 25 guys involved got on and all 25 put their hands up for a place in the first game against Wales."
England U20: Jonathan Joseph (London Irish); Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons), Sam Smith (Harlequins); Jake Sharp (Saracens), Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Jamie George (Saracens), Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Calum Green (Leicester Tigers), Danny Wright (Gloucester Rugby), Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons), Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie), Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons).
Replacements (all used): Arthur Ellis (London Wasps), Lee Imiolek (Sale Sharks), Mako Vunipola (Bristol Rugby), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Peter Elder (London Wasps), Jackson Wray (Saracens), Sam Stuart (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Christian Wade (London Wasps).
Edit:Notes: This amends Jonny May's club in copy
England scorers: Tries: Smith 3, May 2, Catterick 2, Matthews, Ellis. Conversions: Sharp 8.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:22:11:39:19 by England News.
Re: ENGLAND revised Under 20 Elite Player Squad
Posted by: stoop to conquer (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2010 11:22
Who is Wallace?