RugbyRebels

Six players included in the squad have been capped previously at U20 level: Harvey Beaton, Jack Clement, Luke Green, Sam Riley, Tom Roebuck and Jack van Poortvliet.
The player pathway programme is a vital development tool for future full international rugby. Of the 31 players selected in England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad, 81% played for England U20s, 77% for England U18s, while 87% came through a club academy.
Dickens has been joined in the England U20s coaching set up by Andy Titterrell as forwards coach, following previous experience with Wasps where he became part of the coaching team in 2014 after his playing retirement. Titterrell was also forwards coach for England Saxons on their successful tour of South Africa in 2016.
Titterrell’s playing career reached its peak with a call-up for the 2005 British & Irish Lions. In addition to being part of Sale’s 2006 Premiership title win, the former hooker’s club career took in stints with Gloucester, Leeds Carnegie and Edinburgh, while he was capped five times by England.
“Selection for the squad has been based on a combination of things,” explained Dickens. “The four previous regional games we had at St George’s Park, the work we do with the club academies and coaches, plus our knowledge of the players within the pathway. We can only name 32 in the EPS and there will be some disappointed players, but we have a much wider squad that we know will be involved and will contribute during the year.
“It’s great to have Andy Titterrell join the U20s coaching team. He has a wealth of experience from playing and coaching, having represented England and been on a Lions tour during his playing days. I worked with him previously on the 2016 Saxons tour to South Africa and know he’s going to be a valuable member of the U20s management group.
“2020 was a challenging year, but we faced that head on ensuring we had contact with players within the pathway – firstly by setting up calls between them and those in the senior England men’s squad. We then had mini regional camps which were something different but allowed us to get to know more of the players who were U20s eligible and we built from that into the four regional games. It has given me and the whole management team a much better platform to know the players better sooner and we’re really looking forward to getting back to preparations with this group.
“I’d also like to thank all the Premiership clubs, the academies, the coaches and Premiership Rugby for their support, particularly over the past year. It’s been a really collaborative effort.”
ENGLAND U20 EPS – 2021

Forwards
Ben Bamber (Bristol Bears)
Harvey Beaton (Saracens)
Phil Brantingham (Newcastle Falcons)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby)
Luke Green (London Irish)
Alex Groves (Bristol Bears)
Lewis Holsey (Worcester Warriors)
Ethan Hunt (Gloucester Rugby)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby)
Marcus Rhodes (London Irish)
Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby)
Sam Riley (Harlequins)
Ethan Staddon (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby)
Backs
Charlie Atkinson (Wasps)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester Warriors)
Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby)
Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Dan Lancaster (Leeds Tykes)
Tommy Mathews (Northampton Saints)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Fin Smith (Worcester Warriors)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

A lot of good players

I think it says a lot when a number of just as good players miss out.

No Phil Cokanasiga or Fin Baxter?
Nice to see a few of this squad getting some game time but you wonder just how much many of these lads will get meaningful game time over the next few months.
I take it Lucas Brooke is son of Zinzan and Dan Lancaster is son of Burt?

fivepointer wrote:No Phil Cokanasiga or Fin Baxter?
Nice to see a few of this squad getting some game time but you wonder just how much many of these lads will get meaningful game time over the next few months.
I take it Lucas Brooke is son of Zinzan and Dan Lancaster is son of Burt?

Coka a bit like Steward, will be with club so no point picking him. Think Baxter just misses out.

And yes Zinzan’s lad and Burt’s lad.

Tigersman wrote:A lot of good players

I think it says a lot when a number of just as good players miss out.

Yep, a serious group this one. There is this years 20’s and the 18’s coming up next year that have the hallmarks of another ‘golden generation’. I could pick lots that (at this age) have full international written all over them. There’s a lot of recent school leavers in this group.

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

fivepointer wrote:No Phil Cokanasiga or Fin Baxter?
Nice to see a few of this squad getting some game time but you wonder just how much many of these lads will get meaningful game time over the next few months.
I take it Lucas Brooke is son of Zinzan and Dan Lancaster is son of Burt?

Coka a bit like Steward, will be with club so no point picking him. Think Baxter just misses out.

And yes Zinzan’s lad and Burt’s lad.

Hells, I think there's a non-zero chance that PCoka might be an apprentice in the full England squad.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

fivepointer wrote:No Phil Cokanasiga or Fin Baxter?
Nice to see a few of this squad getting some game time but you wonder just how much many of these lads will get meaningful game time over the next few months.
I take it Lucas Brooke is son of Zinzan and Dan Lancaster is son of Burt?

Coka a bit like Steward, will be with club so no point picking him. Think Baxter just misses out.

And yes Zinzan’s lad and Burt’s lad.

Hells, I think there's a non-zero chance that PCoka might be an apprentice in the full England squad.

Puja

Think it is a little early for him. Steward might be an outside bet.

One thing of course to keep in mind is that although this is the squad, expect plenty of changes when it comes to matches.

Ben Bamber is huge. Is he any good?

twitchy wrote:Ben Bamber is huge. Is he any good?

Gosh - 6ft 8 and 19st 12lb. That is a big 19 year old. What little the internet says is that he was poached from Hudderfield RL academy last September, so if nothing else, we can say his fitness must be okay.

Puja

Isn't Steward too old for Eng U20's now anyway.

Tigersman wrote:Isn't Steward too old for Eng U20's now anyway.

I'm never sure of the lines. He was born 5 Dec 2000, so he was 19 at the start of the season - does that make him ineligible?

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

Puja wrote:

Epaminondas Pules wrote:
Coka a bit like Steward, will be with club so no point picking him. Think Baxter just misses out.

And yes Zinzan’s lad and Burt’s lad.

Hells, I think there's a non-zero chance that PCoka might be an apprentice in the full England squad.

Puja

Think it is a little early for him. Steward might be an outside bet.

My thinking is that we've got plenty of back three players, but precious few 12s, especially big lads like PhilC. It is very early for him, but if he keeps playing for Irish (assuming they get to have a non-Covided fixture soon), then Uncle Eddie might want a look.

Burt's lad being in there is a fun decision. He's playing third level of English rugby with Leeds's relegation - I've no doubt that he's an excellent player (and will've had pretty good early years coaching!), but his name and connections have surely been the decider to get him into the squad.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Tigersman wrote:Isn't Steward too old for Eng U20's now anyway.

I'm never sure of the lines. He was born 5 Dec 2000, so he was 19 at the start of the season - does that make him ineligible?

Puja

I thought it was that a player has to be 19 or under on the 31st Dec?

Timbo wrote:

Puja wrote:

Tigersman wrote:Isn't Steward too old for Eng U20's now anyway.

I'm never sure of the lines. He was born 5 Dec 2000, so he was 19 at the start of the season - does that make him ineligible?

Puja

I thought it was that a player has to be 19 or under on the 31st Dec?

That is correct.

The squad is very short of centres, just 2 as far as i can see, Atkinson and Joseph. Plenty of 10's though......

fivepointer wrote:

Timbo wrote:

Puja wrote:
I'm never sure of the lines. He was born 5 Dec 2000, so he was 19 at the start of the season - does that make him ineligible?

Puja

I thought it was that a player has to be 19 or under on the 31st Dec?

That is correct.

The squad is very short of centres, just 2 as far as i can see, Atkinson and Joseph. Plenty of 10's though......

I believe Burt II plays 10/12/13.

Puja

Timbo wrote:

Puja wrote:

Tigersman wrote:Isn't Steward too old for Eng U20's now anyway.

I'm never sure of the lines. He was born 5 Dec 2000, so he was 19 at the start of the season - does that make him ineligible?

Puja

I thought it was that a player has to be 19 or under on the 31st Dec?

Yes you’re right. Having a senior moment.

Puja wrote:

Tigersman wrote:Isn't Steward too old for Eng U20's now anyway.

I'm never sure of the lines. He was born 5 Dec 2000, so he was 19 at the start of the season - does that make him ineligible?

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

Puja wrote:
Hells, I think there's a non-zero chance that PCoka might be an apprentice in the full England squad.

Puja

Think it is a little early for him. Steward might be an outside bet.

My thinking is that we've got plenty of back three players, but precious few 12s, especially big lads like PhilC. It is very early for him, but if he keeps playing for Irish (assuming they get to have a non-Covided fixture soon), then Uncle Eddie might want a look.

Burt's lad being in there is a fun decision. He's playing third level of English rugby with Leeds's relegation - I've no doubt that he's an excellent player (and will've had pretty good early years coaching!), but his name and connections have surely been the decider to get him into the squad.

Puja

Leeds are one of the 14 academies. That might change going forwards, but they’ve always supplied age grade internationals.

Lancaster is a good player. Can play across the backline, apart from 9.

Carpenter is also a Leeds academy product. Sale signed him in 2019

Puja wrote:

fivepointer wrote:

Timbo wrote:
I thought it was that a player has to be 19 or under on the 31st Dec?

That is correct.

The squad is very short of centres, just 2 as far as i can see, Atkinson and Joseph. Plenty of 10's though......

I believe Burt II plays 10/12/13.

Puja

Orlando Bailey also plays 12 as well as 10.