U20s

[Epaminondas Pules]

Squad

ENGLAND U20 MEN ELITE PLAYING SQUAD - 2023/24

Forwards
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)*
Cameron Miell (Leicester)
Craig Wright (Northampton)*
Jacob Oliver (Newcastle)
Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester)*
James Halliwell (Bristol)*
Billy Sela (Bath)
Joe Bailey (Exeter)*
Jack Bennett (Bath)
Olamide Sodeke (Saracens)
Finn Carnduff (Leicester)*
Harry Browne (Harlequins)*
Tom Burrow (Sale)
Nathan Michelow (Saracens)*
Reuben Logan (Northampton)
Henry Pollock (Northampton)
Zach Carr (Harlequins)*
Kane James (Exeter)
Lucas Schmid (Harlequins)

Backs
Archie McParland (Northampton)
Ollie Allan (Leicester)
Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)
Rory Taylor (Gloucester)
Alex Wills (Sale)*
Toby Cousins (Northampton)*
Sean Kerr (Harlequins)
Charlie Myall (Leicester)
Ben Waghorn (Harlequins)*
Will Glister (Northampton)
Malelili Satala (Leicester)
Ben Redshaw (Newcastle)
Ioan Jones (Gloucester)

(*Previously capped at U20 level)
ENGLAND U20 MEN’S U20 SIX NATIONS FIXTURES

2 February - Italy v England - 19:15 GMT – Venue TBC
9 February - England v Wales - 19:15 GMT – The Recreation Ground
23 February - Scotland v England - 19:15 GMT – Venue TBC
8 March - England v Ireland - 19:15 GMT – Venue TBC
15 March - France v England - 20:00 GMT – Venue TBC

[Puja]

Saw a name I didn't recognise from Leicester and came up with a few articles along these lines:https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/leic ... y-20230120

Sounds interesting (although "prodigy" is an overused term at the best of times) - do you know if he's EQ or if there's still the rule that allows players to play for age groups where they're going to school.

Puja

[FKAS]

Miel definitely had a reputation when we brought him over. Wasn't the only media site to call him a prodigy.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/paul-roos- ... land-move/

I haven't seen anywhere that he represented the Boks at age grade and it's unusual for Tigers to bring in players that aren't EQ. Like Potter and Porter I'm expecting there to be some English family. He's been playing loosehead for Loughborough University so far this season iirc.

There's some decent props in this year though so it'll be interesting to see if he gets much game time. Some real pace in the backs as well.

[Margin_Walker]

Props should be really handy with the return of last year's starting pair and Sela and this Saffa added.

Strong looking squad all round, with that solid Saints crop coming through as well.

[fivepointer]

Surprised there's no Kpoku. Very good for the u18s.

[Which Tyler]

Surprised there's no Kpoku. Very good for the u18s.

Still eligible for U18s isn't he?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Surprised there's no Kpoku. Very good for the u18s.

Still eligible for U18s isn't he?

Yep. Turns 18 next week.

[Epaminondas Pules]

It is a serious squad in terms of talent. I fully suspect this will be one of the most experienced (first team club games) sides we produce.

[Which Tyler]

Fresh off the back of this announcement, Billy Sela is (I think) due to make his Bath debut up in Edinburgh on Saturday.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Fresh off the back of this announcement, Billy Sela is (I think) due to make his Bath debut up in Edinburgh on Saturday.

He’s been consistently so good for England, Bath and Beechen! Really looking forward to him easing into Adult rugby.

[Slater582]

Surprised there's no Kpoku. Very good for the u18s.

Gone to France. Apparently he's still young enough to eventually get JIFF status.

[Mellsblue]

Surprised there's no Kpoku. Very good for the u18s.

Gone to France. Apparently he's still young enough to eventually get JIFF status.

As is Arundell…

[Mr Mwenda]

Jiff status? Some reference to Jonathan Davies? Presumably not, please enlighten me!

[FKAS]

Surprised there's no Kpoku. Very good for the u18s.

Gone to France. Apparently he's still young enough to eventually get JIFF status.

As is Arundell…

I don't think you can't change nationality based on residency. Does Arundell have any French parentage?

[FKAS]

Jiff status? Some reference to Jonathan Davies? Presumably not, please enlighten me!

joueurs issus des filières de formation, must have been registered with the FFR for at least five years before turning 23, or have spent three seasons in an FFR-approved training centre before turning 21.

[Mellsblue]

Gone to France. Apparently he's still young enough to eventually get JIFF status.

As is Arundell…

I don't think you can't change nationality based on residency. Does Arundell have any French parentage?

Supposedly there is a route for him to jiff status and Racing are confident it can be worked due to loopholes. The Telegraph, Times and Rugby Paper all reporting it. Charlie Felix confirming on Twitter that a source at Racing said he can become jiff.

[Puja]

As is Arundell…

I don't think you can't change nationality based on residency. Does Arundell have any French parentage?

Supposedly there is a route for him to jiff status and Racing are confident it can be worked. Telegraph, Times and the Rugby Paper all reporting it. Charlie Felix confirming on Twitter that a source at Racing said he can become jiff.

You can be JIFF even if you're not qualified for France, so I'd imagine that's it.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

I don't think you can't change nationality based on residency. Does Arundell have any French parentage?

Supposedly there is a route for him to jiff status and Racing are confident it can be worked. Telegraph, Times and the Rugby Paper all reporting it. Charlie Felix confirming on Twitter that a source at Racing said he can become jiff.

You can be JIFF even if you're not qualified for France, so I'd imagine that's it.

Puja

Yep, there seems to be loopholes. Tertiary education is mentioned as one.

[FKAS]

Supposedly there is a route for him to jiff status and Racing are confident it can be worked. Telegraph, Times and the Rugby Paper all reporting it. Charlie Felix confirming on Twitter that a source at Racing said he can become jiff.

You can be JIFF even if you're not qualified for France, so I'd imagine that's it.

Puja

Yep, there seems to be loopholes. Tertiary education is mentioned as one.

A quick inspection of the rules would suggest he's too old to qualify. Racing know the rules better than us though so perhaps there's something in there, I'd be interested to know what though as it would potentially be more troublesome for us in the long run if French teams can sign 20 year olds and somehow qualify them as JIFF.