England U20 have a tough test on their hands this Saturday, as they take on RFU Championship outfit Coventry. The Men’s Pathway team are undergoing preparations for the upcoming 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.
England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft has selected a new captain for the fixture, and named Sale Sharks lock Tom Burrow to lead the team out. Burrow captained the U19 Men in their recent fixtures against France and Italy. The lock, who has been gaining loan experience with Fylde and Sale FC this season, also has seven U18 Men caps to his name.
He is joined in the starting lineup by fellow uncapped 2024 U20 Elite Player Squad members Will Glister and Reuben Logan (both Northampton Saints), Leicester Tigers trio Charlie Myall, Ollie Allan and Cam Miell as well as recent U19 Men’s player, George Timmins of Bath Rugby.
The fixture takes place on the final weekend of the Championship season when Coventry were originally scheduled to take on Jersey Reds. The West Midlands outfit, who are celebrating their 150-year anniversary in 2024, are led by former England U20 Men’s player Alex Rae and currently sit second in the Championship.
Mapletoft’s men continue their summer schedule with a two-Test tour in Georgia next month, facing their U20 counterparts on 7 and 12 June at the Avchala Stadium.
Andy Titterell said: “This week marks the beginning of our summer schedule in the U20 Men programme ahead of what will be an exciting few months.
“We’ve incorporated many new faces to our wider squad this week who are experiencing their first taste of U20 level rugby. It’s been an incredibly rewarding few days seeing the progress made from involvements in U18 and U19 programmes and Mark, the coaches and I are encouraged by our preparation.
“Our principles of Speed, Attachment and Space have remained consistent to ensure further alignment with our capped and uncapped U20 players, which is imperative when facing a tough challenge in Coventry this week.”
ENGLAND U20 MEN’S TEAM TO FACE COVENTRY RFC
15 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Minchinhampton RFC, 4 caps)
14 Will Glister (Northampton Saints, Buckingham Rugby Club, uncapped)
13 Oli Spencer (Newcastle Falcons, Epping Rams Rugby, 4 caps)
12 Charlie Myall (Leicester Tigers, Maidenhead Rugby Club, uncapped)
11 Alex Wills (Sale Sharks, Droitwich Rugby Club, 7 caps)
10 George Makepeace-Cubitt (Northampton Saints, Reading Abbey RFC, 4 caps)
9 Ollie Allan (Leicester Tigers, Hungerford RFC, uncapped)
1 Cameron Miell (Leicester Tigers, Paul Roos, uncapped)
2 James Isaacs (Saracens, Hemel Hempstead Camelot RFC, 2 caps)
3 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears, Thornbury Broncos Rugby Club, 9 caps)
4 Harvey Cuckson (Bath Rugby, Mold RFC, 1 cap)
5 Tom Burrow (c) (Sale Sharks, Morley RFC, uncapped)
6 Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints, Beaconsfield Rugby Football Club, uncapped)
7 George Timmins (Bath Rugby, Market Harborough RUFC, uncapped)
8 Zach Carr (Harlequins, Ironsides Rugby Club, 5 caps)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle Rugby Club, 4 caps)
17 Ethan Clarke (Harlequins, Worthing RFC, 2 caps)
18 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 5 caps)
19 Harry Browne (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 4 caps)
20 Arthur Green (Bath Rugby, Frome RFC, uncapped)
21 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, 4 caps)
22 Ben Coen (Exeter Chiefs, Teignmouth RFC, uncapped)
23 Angus Hall (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, uncapped)
24 Malelili Satala (Leicester Tigers, Trentham RUFC, uncapped)
25 Conor Byrne (Harlequins, Old Wimbledonians RFC, uncapped)
ENGLAND U20 MEN PRE-WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
25 May – Coventry RFC vs. England U20 Men – Butts Park Arena – 15:00 BST kick-off
7 June – Georgia U20 vs. England U20 Men – Avchala Stadium – Kick-off time TBC
12 June – Georgia U20 vs. England U20 Men – Avchala Stadium – Kick-off time TBC