England have named their side for face Scotland on Friday night in the 20222 U20 Six Nations opener.
The 8pm kick off at the DAM Health Stadium at Murrayfield sees Head Coach Alan Dickens select four players in his side with previous U20 international experience.
Three of those players are selected in the backline, Bristol Bears wing Deago Bailey, Northampton Saints centre Tom Litchfield, and Bath scrum half Tom Carr-Smith, with his club colleague John Stewart, starting at hooker, the only player in the forward pack with previous experience at this level.
Saracens’ Toby Knight captains the side from number 8 on his debut, the former Berkhamsted star is one to keep a close eye on. His club colleague Alex Wardell is on the blindside flank, while on the openside is former Rugby School star Kofi Cripps, now at Wasps.
In the second row are Wasps’ Alfie Bell and Northampton Saints’ Tom Lockett, while either side of Stewart in the front row are Newcastle Falcons’ Mark Dormer and London Irish’s Mikey Summerfield, two real stars of the future.
The forward pack cover on the bench is particularly interesting, showing the depth that Bath have at hooker as alongside Stewart starting, they have a hooker on the bench in Jasper Spandler. Covering prop are Harlequins’ Will Hobson and Wasps’ Robin Hardwick, with Bristol Bears’ Charlie Rice covering the second row and Wasps’ Greg Fisilau covering the back row.
The backline sees Newcastle Falcons’ Louie Johnson, the former Sedbergh skipper, alongside Carr-Smith at half bath, while Northampton Saints’ Ethan Grayson, son of Paul and brother of current Saints star James, starts at inside centre alongside his club colleague Litchfield. Joining Bailey in the back three are two other rapidly rising stars, Wasps’ Ollie Dawkins and London Irish’s former Harrow star Henry Arundell at full back.
Covering the backline are Gloucester’s Matty Jones at scrum half, with Harlequins Jamie Benson covering fly half, look of row the Hampton old boy, a real star of the future. Covering the back three is Northampton Saints’ George Hendy.
Speaking ahead of the game Alan Dickens said: “We’ve had a really great start to our training week and the attitude and commitment from the lads has been outstanding. Yesterday we had a joint session with Oxford University following our game against them in mid-January. It’s helpful to be able to incorporate that into our preparation for the Six Nations.”
“Scotland will be a tough side to face but the boys have put in quality preparation and we’re looking forward to getting out on the pitch in Edinburgh. For many of the players this game will be their first Six Nations experience and that will be a very special moment; I want them to remember that on Friday night and savour the occasion.”
England U20 XV v Scotland – Friday, 8pm, DAM Health Stadium, Murrayfield
15 Henry Arundell (London Irish, Caps 0), 14 Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears, Caps 3), 13 Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints, Caps 2), 12 Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints, Caps 0), 11 Ollie Dawkins (Wasps, Caps 0), 10 Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons, Caps 0), 9 Tom Carr-Smith (Bath Rugby, Caps 2), 1 Mark Dormer (Newcastle Falcons, Caps 0), 2 John Stewart (Bath Rugby, Caps 1), 3 Mikey Summerfield (London Irish, Caps 0), 4 Alfie Bell (Wasps, Caps 0), 5 Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints, Caps 0), 6 Alex Wardell (Saracens, Caps 0), 7 Kofi Cripps (Wasps, Caps 0), 8 Toby Knight (Saracens, Caps 0, captain).
Replacements: 16 Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby, Caps 0), 17 Will Hobson (Harlequins, Caps 0), 18 Robin Hardwick (Wasps, Caps 0), 19 Charlie Rice (Bristol Bears, Caps 0), 20 Greg Fisilau (Wasps, Caps 0), 21 Matty Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Caps 0), 22 Jamie Benson (Harlequins, Caps 0), 23 George Hendy (Northampton Saints, Caps 0).
