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England U20s head coach Mark Mapletoft has named a strong mix of experience and emerging players for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship with two Bath Rugby players featuring in the 30-player squad.
Sam Harris and Harvey Cuckson have been named in the Championship squad to travel to Cape Town, South Africa in what is the return of the biggest U20 men’s tournament since 2019. The World Rugby U20 Championship will see the world’s best young talent face up against each other in the bid to be crowed Champions, something England are familiar with having won the title on three other occasions.
19-year-old Sam Harris, has become a regular feature in the age-grade side, racking up eight caps for his country since his debut back in March 2022. He started at full-back in all five games in the recent U20s Six Nations campaign, including scoring a try at a packed-out Rec when Bath Rugby hosted England U20 v France U20.
Following a first-time inclusion to the side for their two-match tour to Georgia, Harvey Cuckson is included in the squad as one of nine uncapped players at U20 level in the squad. Cuckson started in both encounters against their Georgian counterparts and will be looking to continue to show what he can do in the second row on the age-grade world stage.
“The World Rugby U20 Championship is the peak of the age grade calendar and for many this will be the highlight of their rugby journeys so far” said Mapletoft.
“The players have learned a lot as a team and about themselves this year, including during our Six Nations campaign and on our recent tour of Georgia, and we’ll be better as a group for it. We’re very excited to take this squad to South Africa and test ourselves against the world’s best teams.
“Our squad reflects the diversity and strength of English rugby with every Premiership club represented, and we trust each player to play with pride every time they pull on an England shirt.”
England Men’s u20 squad
Forwards
Afolabi Fasogbon (London Irish)
Archie McArthur (Gloucester)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish)
Craig Wright (Northampton)*
Ethan Clarke (Harlequins)*
Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers)
Finn Theobald-Thomas (Gloucester)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Harry Browne (Harlequins)
Harvey Cuckson (Bath Rugby)*
James Halliwell (Bristol Bears)*
Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
Nathan Michelow (Saracens)*
Tristan Woodman (Sale Sharks)
Zach Carr (Harlequins)*
Backs
Alex Wills (Sale Sharks)*
Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)
Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
Connor Slevin (Harlequins)*
Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)
Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Sale Sharks)
Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)
Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
Toby Thame (Northampton)*
*Uncapped England U20
ENGLAND MEN’S FIXTURES
England U20 v Ireland U20 – Saturday 24 June – KO 12:30pm BST
England U20 v Fiji U20 – Thursday 29 June – KO 6:00pm BST
England U20 v Australia U20 – Tuesday 4 July – KO 1:00pm BST
Knock-out matches (semi-finals) – Sunday 9 July
Ranking Finals – Friday 14 July
