England U20 Squad- 2022

The U20s squad has been announced.  They seem to be a somewhat unknown quantity this year.   Normally I would see five or six nations that really standout as familiar and only a couple that I didn’t recognise.  This time I had to really research a lot of these names and therefore the positions may be slightly incorrect (especially in centres/ back-row).

Props:

Will Hobson (Harlequins) (LH)
Mark Dormer (Newcastle) (LH)
Mike Summerfield (London Irish) (LH?)

Fin Baxter (Harlequins) (TH)
Robin Hardwick (Wasps) (TH)

Hooker:

Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle)
John Stewart (Bath)


Second Row:

Alfie Bell (Wasps)
Tom Lockett (Northampton)
Charlie Rice (Bristol)
Ewan Richards (Bath)
Alex Wardell (Saracens)

Back Row:

Kofi Cripps (Wasps) (OS)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester) (BS)
Geordie Irvine (Northampton) (No.8)
Toby Knight (Saracens)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle) (OS)

Scrum Half:

Tom Carr-Smith (Bath)
Matty Jones (Gloucester)

Fly Half:

Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle)
Fin Smith (Worcester)

Centres:

Seb Atkinson (Worcester) (IC)
Ethan Grayson (Northampton (IC)
Olly Hartley (Wasps) (IC)
Will Joseph (London Irish)(OC)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton)(IC)

Wing:

Deago Bailey (Bristol)
Iwan Stephens (Newcastle)


Full Back:

Henry Arundell (London Irish)
George Hendy (Northampton)

It's been a while since Newcastle have been joint top contributors. I would put good money on Iwan Stephens representing Wales though.

Newcastle: x5
Northampton: x5
London Irish: x4
Wasps: x4
Bath: x3
Harlequins: x3
Bristol: x2
Saracens x2
Worcester: x2
Leicester: x1
Gloucester: x1

From a LI point of view, it's great to see Joseph named. Was looking very good in the bits and pieces of gametime he got at the start of last season before picking up an injury that has kept him out for the best part of a year. Looks like he's close to fitness again if he makes this squad.

Also look out for Arundell. He looks a real prospect.

Looking forward to seeing Ilione get more time to show what he can do. The nasty shoulder injury he picked up on the last 6N has meant he hasn't played since. Pepper is supposed to be quite handy at 7 so that could be a good flank pairing.

I'm a little surprised that Wuss are releasing Finn Smith for this.

Litchfield looked good last 6N and has played a bit for the Saints first team. He could offer the direct threat in the midfield for the fleet footed Joseph at 13. 

With so few back three options but three flyhalfs perhaps we'll see a playmaker at 15.

Olly Hartley was name checked by Ugo on BT Rugby.
He was good in the Prem. Cup for Wasps & has been good for Ampthill to.
A unit at 6’4”” & not far off 15 stone.

No reps. from Sale or Exeter.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Looking forward to seeing Ilione get more time to show what he can do. The nasty shoulder injury he picked up on the last 6N has meant he hasn't played since. Pepper is supposed to be quite handy at 7 so that could be a good flank pairing.

I'm a little surprised that Wuss are releasing Finn Smith for this.

Litchfield looked good last 6N and has played a bit for the Saints first team. He could offer the direct threat in the midfield for the fleet footed Joseph at 13. 

With so few back three options but three flyhalfs perhaps we'll see a playmaker at 15.

Lightning quick...out and out 7.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Looking forward to seeing Ilione get more time to show what he can do. The nasty shoulder injury he picked up on the last 6N has meant he hasn't played since. Pepper is supposed to be quite handy at 7 so that could be a good flank pairing.

I'm a little surprised that Wuss are releasing Finn Smith for this.

Litchfield looked good last 6N and has played a bit for the Saints first team. He could offer the direct threat in the midfield for the fleet footed Joseph at 13. 

With so few back three options but three flyhalfs perhaps we'll see a playmaker at 15.

Lightning quick...out and out 7.  

Be a good combination with the powerfully explosive Ilione who's built like an ideal modern day 6 then. Should be fun.

I seem to know less of these squads every year, even our lads. Obviously seen Stephens a few times who's a small tricky winger, surprised he's turning out for England rather than Wales though.

Googling Pepper, he looks like Will Welch's love child. Found a few videos of Louie Johnson...good runner, some nice feet and turn of pace.

Lets hope for a quality 12 to make it out of this bunch.

Pepper is a class act at his age group....even Carl Fearns has tweeted saying what a future this kid has.

Louie Johnson potentially has the lot. He has all the above but can kick and control a game aswell.
England could be in a rare position a few years down the line with Fly half options....!

Stephens will be a Wales player ...id be amazed if he wasnt.

Lots to look forward to.

https://nextgenxv.com/2022/01/05/england-u20-six-new-and-six-old-to-watch/

Olly Hartley looks a big lump at 12. Google him, his face doesn't seem to match his frame if that makes sense.

Cant say i know much about Ollie Hartley...but if he proves to be another Wasps starlet its only good for England also.

Surely with (him) , Ojomoh, Dan Kelly, Ollie Lawrence etc...SURELY we can find an actual top class 12 for the England Senior side...

Did the U20's play through the week? I cant see any reports etc on it.

Got tickets for the Wales game in Donny so looking forward to this. Not seen that much of the u20s in the last couple of year so will have to read up on some of them. The link Trev gave seems to be optimistic.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Did the U20's play through the week? I cant see any reports etc on it.

Played a warm up game against Oxford Uni yesterday. Think it was due to be pretty much a completely different team for each half.

Not sure on score etc

Edit - Published teams

First half
15 George Hendy
14 Deago Bailey
13 Jacob Cusick
12 Ethan Grayson
11 Cassius Cleaves
10 Louie Johnson
9 Tom Carr-Smith
1 Fin Baxter (c)
2 Jasper Spandler
3 Mikey Summerfield
4 Tom Lockett
5 Alex Wardell
6 Macenzzie Duncan
7 Kofi Cripps
8 Geordie Irvine

Second half
15 Henry Arundell
14 Francis Moore
13 Seb Atkinson (c)
12 Bryn Bradley
11 Ollie Dawkins
10 Jamie Benson
9 Matty Jones
1 Mark Dormer
2 Tom Cotton
3 Will Hobson/Robin Hardwick
4 Alfie Bell
5 Charlie Rice
6 Geordie Irvine/Macenzzie Duncan
7 Kofi Cripps
8 Greg Fisilau

https://nextgenxv.com/2022/01/14/england-u20-england-u20-to-take-on-oxford-university-team-news/

Was just interested to see how they got on...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Was just interested to see how they got on...

Well it seems they won

https://www.instagram.com/p/CY1sNVBoq3O/

No idea on the score

I see England U20 won 54-31

U20s team for Scotland on Friday night. Will be streamed on iPlayer

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-u20-men-team-to-play-scotland-in-six-nations-opener

England Men's U20 Team

15. Henry Arundell (London Irish)
14. Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
13. Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints)
12. Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints)
11. Ollie Dawkins (Wasps)
10. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)
9. Tom Carr-Smith (Bath Rugby)
1. Mark Dormer (Newcastle Falcons)
2. John Stewart (Bath Rugby)
3. Mikey Summerfield (London Irish)
4. Alfie Bell (Wasps)
5. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints)
6. Alex Wardell (Saracens)
7. Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
8. Toby Knight (Saracens)

Replacements

16. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby)
17. Will Hobson (Harlequins)
18. Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
19. Charlie Rice (Bristol Bears)
20. Gregg Fisilau (Wasps)
21. Matty Jones (Gloucester Rugby)
22. Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
23. George Hendy (Northampton Saints)

I guess Finn Smith was not released by Wuss for this one, probably same with Baxter and Quins. Looks a fairly green side compared to last year's but I guess that was always likely given last summer's squad played in the summer with no club commitments clashing.

Haven't seen a great deal of any of the pack play, so will be interesting to see what happens up front

As a purely biased Falcon, ill be watching to see how our two get on...specifically Louie Johnson at 10. Hes a big hope for us.

That's pretty normal tbf. I'd expect most club supporters are interested in these games primarily to get a good look at their own club's best youngsters. Then after that to play the 'pick the future full internationals out of this lot' game.

No Ilione. Is he injured again, back at Tigers or just not picked this time?

Not sure on him. He was out for a long time iirc, but thought he may have been fit again now.

The young Scots are up for this one.

That's not a try ..

Good decision by the TMO...no try

Erm Scottish commentator....the england player clearly knocks it out of the Scotland players hands...take off you tartan blinkers.

But no doubt about that one.

Scotland have quite an 8 coming through in Lestherbarrow

GeordieFalcon wrote:Erm Scottish commentator....the england player clearly knocks it out of the Scotland players hands...take off you tartan blinkers.

But he did. He smack the ball and it went back. He saved the try

tigertattie wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Erm Scottish commentator....the england player clearly knocks it out of the Scotland players hands...take off you tartan blinkers.

But he did. He smack the ball and it went back. He saved the try

No the commentator was suggesting it should be a try

The England pack are a bit monsterous

That Arundel of Lirish at full back is some runner!!

In fact England's backs are serious once they get the ball.

Scotland are doing well in the pack though.

tigertattie wrote:The England pack are a bit monsterous  

Well the Scots are more than matching them in the forwards at the moment. Its the backs where England have an edge. Not enough so far though

Strange game. England trying to play smart by running from deep (Scots are packing the backfield), but if feels a bit suicidal! Scots pack have fronted up well, but English forwards have been really inaccurate.

England look likely to score every time the backs get decent ball. I reckon if the forwards can stay on the right side of the ref in the second half, they will win (possibly quite well). If the Scots keep the intensity and pressure England into errors/ penalties, then they could very well be on for a result.

Been really impressed with Arundell and to a lesser extent Grayson.

I'm not sure the English pack is particularly big to be honest, haven't looked at the stats, but we tend to favour athletes, rather than 'white orcs' these days.

Both packs look big to be honest. What is the age breakdown like? The England team look very different from the one that won the delayed 2021 6N

Want to see that again. Not saying it wasn't deserved but looked like he put the ball down short

Edit - on the line OK

Well I don't think Johnson had his best of games.

Taling about the Graysons there...and Ethan has looked good.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Taling about the Graysons there...and Ethan has looked good.

He could do with knowing when to pass but he's got good feet

Feck me Arundel is good

Arundel is something else ..

lostinwales wrote:Feck me Arundel is good

Yes, I was just about to post the same thing, quite outstanding!

lostinwales wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Taling about the Graysons there...and Ethan has looked good.

He could do with knowing when to pass but he's got good feet

He's nor ally very good with his passing. Maybe he's felt the pressure and tried to force it too much..

I’m know nothing about broadcast setups but you’d think bbc would have whoever is doing the camera work tonight doing it tomorrow. If it is pity help us as the filming tonight has been utterly dreadful

tigertattie wrote:I’m know nothing about broadcast setups but you’d think bbc would have whoever is doing the camera work tonight doing it tomorrow. If it is pity help us as the filming tonight has been utterly dreadful

That 'arty' angle in the back play was infuriating.

Bit harsh that YC, England got a lot more leeway.