U20s squad announced

[Puja]

England Under-20s

Forwards
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)
Tarek Haffar (London Irish)
Lewis Holsey (Worcester Warriors)
Ethan Hunt (Gloucester Rugby)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby)
Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby)
Sam Riley (Harlequins)
Ollie Stonham (Saracens)
Harry Taylor (Gloucester Rugby)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby)
Archie Vanes (Leicester Tigers)

Backs
Charlie Atkinson (Wasps)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester Warriors)
Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby)
Jack Bates (Bristol Bears)
Louis Hillman-Cooper (Gloucester Rugby)
Dan Lancaster (Leeds Tykes)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints)
Tommy Mathews (Northampton Saints)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Arthur Relton (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Fin Smith (Worcester Warriors)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

[TheNomad]

I figured a few of them might be shouts for the main squad. Quirke in particular

[Mellsblue]

Tom Litchfield is one to watch. He is still 18/just turned 19 and was always one of the best players on the field whilst playing for (hometown club) Bedford.

[Stom]

Wow, just a single Quin...

No Anyanwu, Baxter, Beard? I don't know if Hammond qualifies still (July birthday)...

[TheNomad]

Tom Litchfield is one to watch. He is still 18/just turned 19 and was always one of the best players on the field whilst playing for (hometown club) Bedford.

Inside or outside centre? Any more details?

[Scrumhead]

Wow, just a single Quin...

No Anyanwu, Baxter, Beard? I don't know if Hammond qualifies still (July birthday)...

I thought the same. Unusual for us.

Still, I’d expect all three of those to be featuring more next season so a break and full preseason might be of more benefit anyway.

[FKAS]

Must be some good props on included because there's a couple rated by Tigers in the development/academy that aren't in there and no Fin Baxter from Quins either.

The halfback options look pretty outstanding, Quirke and JVP should be tearing it up at this level after good showings in the Prem. I presume one of Bailey or Atkinson will drop to 15 and we'll have dual playmakers.

[Banquo]

Is Freeman too old?

[TheNomad]

Is Freeman too old?

If he's not, there must be some seriously bloody good 15s in that squad!

[TheNomad]

The halfback options look pretty outstanding, Quirke and JVP should be tearing it up at this level after good showings in the Prem. I presume one of Bailey or Atkinson will drop to 15 and we'll have dual playmakers.

There are multiple genuinely prem ready 9s and 10s in there, which is crazy, and obviously highly encouraging

Some of the 10s and 15s, given the depth, might want to think about being able to cover 12...would certainly help with a path the main squad!

[Which Tyler]

I think this is right:

HK: Ethan Hunt, Sam Riley, Archie Vanes
Prop: Luke Green, Tarek Haffar, Phil Brantingham, Lewis Holsey, Harvey Beaton
LK: Ewan Richards, Alex Groves, Arthur Clark,
BR: Nahum Merigan, Jack Clement, Harry Taylor, Freddie Thomas, Lucas Brooke , Emeka Ilione, Ollie Stonham


SH: Jack van Poortvliet, Raffi Quirke
FH: Orlando Bailey, Tommy Mathews, Charlie Atkinson, Fin Smith
CE: Louis Hillman-Cooper, Tom Litchfield, Seb Atkinson, Dan Lancaster
B3: Deago Bailey, Jack Bates, Arthur Relton, Tom Roebuck

[Banquo]

Is Freeman too old?

If he's not, there must be some seriously bloody good 15s in that squad!

Turned 20 in March.

[Tigersman]

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/spor ... ds-3266020

And Freeman? Surely at 20 years old his body is feeling fresher?

"On Tuesday, I'm off to Sweden for some surgery on both my knees," said the talented back, who is set to make his 17th appearance of the season at Bath on Saturday.

"It's just some scraping so real minor surgery and that will put me in rehab for a few weeks in the off-season.

"Hopefully I'll get a week away somewhere, down to Cornwall or something.

"I do just need to relax because this is the most rugby I've played at this level."

[Tigersman]

I could see it being at one stage
10. Smith
12. Bailey
15. Atkinson

[Which Tyler]

I could see it being at one stage
10. Smith
12. Bailey
15. Atkinson

Given the lack of real name recognition at centre and FB, that could very easily be the first choice team - with Lancaster/Litchfield at 13.


Lucas Brooke - is that Zinzan's boy?

[Mellsblue]

Tom Litchfield is one to watch. He is still 18/just turned 19 and was always one of the best players on the field whilst playing for (hometown club) Bedford.

Inside or outside centre? Any more details?

Predominantly 13 but did have one game at 12. Knows to run at gaps and knows how to time those runs. Great outside arc, good hand off and offloading game. V strong in contact, esp given age. Runner rather than a distributor but saw him throw a couple of long spin passes off his right straight in to the bread basket. Didn’t see him try any off his left hand.... Pace was good but not a burner.
Obvs all in the Champ but all at 18. I’m almost certainly biased but I’d put him up there with Kruis, Earl and Henry Taylor as loan players I’ve thought looked the real deal. Let’s hope it’s Kruis or Earl call by me rather than Taylor!!

[Puja]

No Fin Baxter - is he injured?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Lucas is Zinzan's son.

Squad is very strong at halfback with a number of players having Premiership experience. Pity Freeman not available.

I imagine Beard misses out due to injury and Will Joseph isnt there either.

[Raggs]

Atkinson is in both the England squad and this, well done that boy.

I'd love for Atkinson to move to 12, it'd really help Wasps as a club to have him there. But he's been useful to have at 15 too.

[Which Tyler]

Atkinson is in both the England squad and this, well done that boy.

Which England squad? have I missed something?

ETA: Oh yeah, he was in the 6N "Backup squad that may or may not be the backup if we suffer an injury" wasn't he. But absolutely, well played to the lad

[Epaminondas Pules]

No Fin Baxter - is he injured?

Puja

No, but there is Beaton and Green who are the incumbents. I'd expect Baxter to feature in the JWC in October.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I could see it being at one stage
10. Smith
12. Bailey
15. Atkinson

Given the lack of real name recognition at centre and FB, that could very easily be the first choice team - with Lancaster/Litchfield at 13.


Lucas Brooke - is that Zinzan's boy?

I'd be very surprised if we didn't play one of the fly halves at fullback, and then probably a mix in midfield between having Bailey at 12 and one of the more regular centres. Then Likely Roebuck and Bailey probably first choice wings.

And yeah Lucas is. He's a bit of a monster.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I think this is right:

HK: Ethan Hunt, Sam Riley, Archie Vanes
Prop: Luke Green, Tarek Haffar, Phil Brantingham, Lewis Holsey, Harvey Beaton
LK: Ewan Richards, Alex Groves, Arthur Clark,
BR: Nahum Merigan, Jack Clement, Harry Taylor, Freddie Thomas, Lucas Brooke , Emeka Ilione, Ollie Stonham


SH: Jack van Poortvliet, Raffi Quirke
FH: Orlando Bailey, Tommy Mathews, Charlie Atkinson, Fin Smith
CE: Louis Hillman-Cooper, Tom Litchfield, Seb Atkinson, Dan Lancaster
B3: Deago Bailey, Jack Bates, Arthur Relton, Tom Roebuck

Only thing is Ilione is flexible in terms of being able to play lock and backrow. They might well do that just to get best players on the pitch with all the other backrow options. That is a hell of a lot of quality options at backrow that we can fill. A frightening back row whoever we pick.

[Slater582]

Wow, just a single Quin...

No Anyanwu, Baxter, Beard? I don't know if Hammond qualifies still (July birthday)...

Anyanwu & Hammond were both born in 2000 so I think they're no longer eligible.

I could see it being at one stage
10. Smith
12. Bailey
15. Atkinson

Given the lack of real name recognition at centre and FB, that could very easily be the first choice team - with Lancaster/Litchfield at 13.

In regards centre, is Phil Cokanasiga injured?

No Fin Baxter - is he injured?

Puja

No, but there is Beaton and Green who are the incumbents. I'd expect Baxter to feature in the JWC in October.

Hadn't realised they've moved it to October. Does that mean some of the most talented players will be blocked from going by their clubs?

[Puja]

In regards centre, is Phil Cokanasiga injured?

He's not been present for Irish for the last two games in the season, but I don't know if that was a reaction to his previous game (where he was pretty poor) or if he's injured or if he's still suffering from the off-field issues with his family that kept him out earlier in the season.

Puja