Nick Walshe has made four changes to his England U20s Elite Player Squad in preparation for the forthcoming U20s Six Nations.

Bath Hooker Tom Woolstencroft, who was a member of our Fifteen Rugby All Star School Squad at the end of last season, is one of the call-ups, alongside Northampton Saints’ wing Tom Collins, Bedford Blues’ Aaron Morris, and Worcester Warriors’ centre Max Stelling.

They replace Sale Sharks’ Cameron Neild, Leicester Tigers’ George Cathchpole, Harlequins’ Jordan Burns, and Bath’s Anthony Watson, who has demonstrated the wonderful stepping stone that the U20s is, having been named in the updated Saxons squad and also in Stuart Lancaster ‘s full England Six Nations squad.

Walshe spoke of his pride at Watson’s move from the U20s into the senior squad, where another U20s World Cup winner, Jack Nowell, joins him, while Henry Slade is also called into the Saxons:

“It is fantastic to see the likes of Antony Watson, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade graduate to the England Senior teams so soon after representing the Under 20s. It is a real testament to the programme and hopefully many more will follow over the coming years.”

The rest of the U20s squad remains the same as that which was named in the summer, and they will press on ahead into the Six Nations, where they will be looking for their fourth successive title, beginning with an evening kick off against France on 31^st January.

That game is followed by a trip to Netherdale to play Scotland, one of three away fixtures in this season’s campaign, something that Walshe acknowledged would be a challenge for his young squad:

“We’re looking forward to this Six Nations – we have a young squad, but a strong squad with players who have considerable experience at this level, and our emphasis is on performing to our potential.”

“We head over to France for the opening game and we know how tough it will be. With three away fixtures it’s always going to be a challenge, but it’s one I feel we have prepared well for and are looking forward to.”

The Scotland game is on the 7^th February and is followed by two home games against Ireland and Wales (at Franklin’s Gardens & Kingston Park) on the 22^nd February and the 7^th March respectively, both of which will be shown live on Sky Sports, before the campaign is rounded off on the 14^th March with a trip to Italy.

England U20s Six Nations Fixtures:

France – Friday 31^st January, Stade Leo Lagrange, Paris – 19.55

Scotland – Friday 7^th February^, Netherdale, Galashiels – 19.30

Ireland – Saturday 22^nd February, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton – 18.15 (Sky Sports)

Wales – Friday 7^th March, Kingston Park, Newcastle – 19.45 (Sky Sports)

Italy – Friday 14^th March, Campo Cmunale La Colombera, Brecia – TBC

England U20s EPS

Forwards: James Chisholm (Harlequins) Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs) Tom Ellis (Bath) Charlie Ewels (Bath) Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie) Jonny Hill (Gloucester) Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints) Maro Itoje (Saracens) Gus Jones (London Wasps) Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester) Alex Lundberg (London Wasps) Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) Will Owen Harry Rudkin Harry Thacker (All Leicester Tigers) Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) Tom Woolstencroft (Bath).

Backs: Callum Braley (Bristol) Billy Burns (Gloucester) Tom Collins (Northampton Saints) Nathan Earle (Saracens) Louis Grimoldby (Harlequins) Zach Kibirige (Newcastle Falcons) Aaron Morris (Bedford Blues) Sam Olver Howard Packman (Both Northampton Saints) Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers) Harry Sloan (Harlequins) Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints) Max Stelling (Worcester Warriors) Nick Tompkins (Saracens) Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs).