England U20s name squad for 2013/2014 Season
By Verity Williams
September 11 2013
England Under 20s have named their squad for the new season, with coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel leading the side into the new campaign
.The 32-man group will be hoping to win a fourth Under 20 Six Nations title in a row in the New Year before heading to New Zealand to defend their IRB Junior World Championship trophy next June. Walshe and Peel have called on 11 players previously capped at this level while another 11 of the squad represented England at Under 18 level on their recent summer tour to South Africa. Walshe said: “We’re excited to work with the players in our squad. We have a good blend of guys with experience and new talent coming in from the Under 18s set-up. “There is always huge competition at this age grade and a lot of players getting first team rugby at their clubs, it’s tough to narrow that down to a group of 32 and we expect players to continue to push for inclusion. “Competition for places will be high, but that’s just what you want. We had a successful season last season and the aim is to perform even better.” England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “This season’s England Under 20s squad is a strong one with lots of experience, the amount of competition for places in each position reflects well on the work the regional academies at the clubs are doing. “A lot of the players in this squad have come through our age group international programme – nine are Junior World Championship winners – and that goes to show how well the development pathway is working with players progressing through from the 18s into the Under 20s and then hopefully pushing for places in the Senior and Saxons Elite Player Squads." Since the formation of the England U20s side in 2007 – replacing the England U21 team – they have an impressive six-year record. In the 60 matches played the squad have won 47 and lost just 13, a win percentage of 78 per cent. The U20s have won four Six Nations titles, (2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013), and have been runners up in the Junior World Championship on three occasions and winners once. England U20 Elite Player Squad 2013/14 Forwards James Chisholm (Harlequins) Backs Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby) |
