England have named a 26-man squad ahead of their opening 2018 U20 Six Nations fixture against Italy on Friday.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 later in the week ahead of the game at the Stadio Enzo Bearzot in Gorizia, kicking off at 6pm UK time.

Head Coach Steve Bates has included 12 players in the group with prior experience at U20 level.

In the back line Rory Brand, Will Butler, James Grayson, Gabriel Ibitoye, and Tom Parton all have prior experience, while in the pack Henry Walker, Alex Seville, Joe Morris, and Dino Lamb-Cona all have experience, so too Marcus Street and Ted Hill, who both represented England at U18 and U20 level last year, as well as Ben Earl, who captained the side last year.

Brand and Parton are among four former Wellington College pupils in the squad, with Ben Loader and Josh Basham included.

England U20s extended squad v Italy:

Backs

Rory Brand (London Irish)

Will Butler (Worcester Warriors)

Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)

James Grayson (Northampton Saints)

Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)

Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)

Ben Loader (London Irish)

Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers)

Tom Parton (London Irish)

Ben White (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards

Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors)

Josh Basham (London Irish)

Ben Earl (Saracens)

Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)

Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)

Dino Lamb (Harlequins)

Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers)

Sam Moore (Sale Sharks)

Joe Morris (Worcester Warriors)

Gabriel Oghre (Wasps)

James Scott (Worcester Warriors)

Alex Seville (Gloucester)

Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)

Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints)

Henry Walker (Gloucester)

Tom Willis (Wasps)