"Ignore the Heat" - Kane James reveals how England U20s deal with scorching conditions at World Champs

Exeter Chiefs back row Kane James was one of the star players in England U20s opening day win against Scotland at the World Rugby U20 Championship. Despite the heat in northern Italy, Mark Mapletoft's side managed to play through the conditions and come up with a strong performance that ended in a 56-19 victory.

They faced some adversity, with Scotland starting well and taking the lead on a couple of occasions early on in the match. The U20 World Championships have been played in some sweltering conditions, as parts of mainland Europe deals with an exhaustive heatwave throughout the past fortnight. The hosting Italian towns of Viadana, Verona, Calvisano and Rovigo have been consistently recording temperatures in the mid-30 degrees, with the hottest points in the day creeping towards the 40 degree mark.

Speaking about the conditions and the game as a whole, James said, "One thing that was massive for us was just dealing with the heat because it was very tough conditions. There were just points where we could come together, regroup as a team and just push on and ignore the heat.

"I think that was really important for us. Something that we all talk about is that 'Brotherhood in the heat' because it gets tough mentally as well. If we're all good mates on the pitch it helps us push through tough times."

That eagerness for confrontation is something that defines James’s game. Whether he’s wearing the white of England, the teal of Exeter University or the black of the Chiefs, his appetite for the hard yards remains the same.

"I quite like the physical challenge," he said with a grin. "I like to get my head into some gritty places so I'll like to face that challenge. They're probably one of the biggest physical presences in the tournament so it will be a good challenge for us and something that we are all willing to embrace."

That kind of insight reflects the multi-layered rugby education James is receiving. In addition to representing the England U20s and being part of the Exeter Chiefs setup, he’s also balancing a degree in Accounting and Finance at Exeter University, where he features prominently in the BUCS Super Rugby competition.

"They're all completely different games," he explained. "The speed of the 20s is second to none and then the BUCS mixes a bit of both worlds in there, it's very fast and then there's a few older boys so it is more of a physical challenge. And then the step up again to Chiefs is just another big physical challenge and is a bit more mental with the crowd sizes and stuff like that."

That kind of variety is helping to sharpen his game and develop a broader rugby IQ, particularly in terms of adapting to different styles and intensities. It’s also enhanced by the close-knit cohort of Chiefs players within the England setup.

"It's quite cool, there's six or seven of us so it's quite cool to have so many of us and to play across so many teams," he said. "We get encouraged to speak to as many boys as possible because it's only going to benefit us if we're all really good mates. Although I know those boys very well it's really important for us to step out of our comfort zone and talk to someone that we may not normally talk to."

The sense of camaraderie is something James values deeply. Nowhere is that bond stronger than in his relationship with captain Ben Redshaw, his former schoolmate from Sedbergh.

"I've known Ben for quite a while so it's quite nice to have someone in the team, especially since he's captain as well. I've known Ben for about four years and we used to live together in the same boarding house so we know each other quite well."