England U20s name 2013 IRB Junior World Championship Squad
By KBM
April 26 2013
England Under 20s coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel have named their 28-man squad ahead of their IRB Junior World Championship campaign in France, which kicks off with a game against their French hosts on June 5.
The squad contains players with a huge amount of Aviva Premiership, A-League and RFU Championship experience, and Head Coach Walshe is pleased with the players at his disposal as they look to move on from last season’s seventh-place finish. Eight members of the squad played in last year’s competition while the likes of Jack Nowell, Ben Howard, Jack Clifford, Ollie Devoto and Henry Slade have all played Aviva Premiership rugby over recent weeks. Walshe said: “We enjoyed a good Six Nations and on the back of that, competition for places has been high and some good players have missed out. However, we’re very pleased with the 28 selected. The games come thick and fast in this tournament, we’ve got a very tough group but we’re excited by that challenge.” After France, Six Nations winners England face title-holders South Africa before coming up against USA, who are competing in the JWC for the first time in five years. Walshe added: “All our attention is on that first game against the French, we did well against them in the Six Nations but this will be a totally different game. It’s one we’re looking forward to.” Forwards Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)* Backs Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby) * Played in 2012 IRB Junior World Championship IRB Junior World Championship schedule Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Semi-final Final |
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Nick Walshe (top) and Ian Peel
England Under 20s will be coached by Nick Walshe and Ian Peel at this summer’s IRB Junior World Championship in France.
Walshe has been Assistant Coach for the past two seasons and will take up the interim Head Coach role, replacing Rob Hunter who has joined Exeter Chiefs, while National Academy Coach Peel will be interim Assistant Coach for this June’s tournament based in Nantes.
England take on their French hosts in their opening game before playing defending champions South Africa and USA in their other two pool games.
England placed seventh at last year’s competition in South Africa, but defended their Under 20s Six Nations title in March this year, winning four of their five matches.
Walshe said: “It’s a massive honour to be in charge of the side for this summer’s competition, we have a talented group of hungry young players who performed very well during the Six Nations and we’ll be looking to continue that form in France. We have a tough pool and the focus is very much on that first game.”
Peel added: “This is an exciting opportunity and a good chance to continue working with the best young players in the country. The Junior World Championship is a tough competition but we have a strong squad and I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
Henry Purdy
England Under 20s have been forced into making a change to their IRB Junior World Championship squad after Sale Sharks centre Mark Jennings was ruled out with an arm injury.
Leicester Tigers wing Henry Purdy has been called in as his replacement. The 18-year-old back played for the Under 20s three times during the successful 2013 Six Nations campaign, scoring one try against France in Worcester.
Updated England Under 20 IRB Junior World Championship squad
Forwards
Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)*
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)*
Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)*
Matt Hankin (Saracens)
Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)*
Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
Nathan Morris (London Wasps)*
Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
David Sisi (London Irish)*
Tom Smallbone (London Irish)
Scott Spurling (Saracens)
Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)
Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Backs
Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)*
Will Hooley (Northampton Saints)
Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)*
Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)
Anthony Watson (London Irish)
* Played in 2012 IRB Junior World Championship
IRB Junior World Championship schedule
All games live on Sky Sports HD
Game 1
England v France
Wednesday, June 5, 17:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon
Game 2
England v South Africa
Sunday, June 9, 15:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon
Game 3
England v USA
Thursday, June 13, 17:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon
Semi-final
Tuesday, June 18
Final
Sunday, June 23