Conlon in England's JWC squad

Exeter Chiefs forward Joel Conlon has been named in the England Under-20s squad that will head to New Zealand for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in Auckland.

The all-action flanker - who this season has been dual-registered with Championship side Cornish Pirates - is one of seven players in the 28-man squad who helped England to lift the title for the first time in France last June.

England kick off their campaign on June 2 against Italy at the ECOLight Stadium in Pukekohe before facing Australia on June 6 at the QBE Stadium, Auckland, before taking on Argentina on June 10, again at the QBE Stadium.

Head Coach Nick Walshe said: “We’re pleased with the balance and experience in this squad, and we are confident that they will perform well in each of our five matches. While England U20 are the holders of the trophy, this group hasn’t won anything – we enjoyed a successful Six Nations, and while it was disappointing not to win it, as a group we came on hugely. The key is to keep building on that momentum.

“Our focus is on that first game against Italy – we have a warm up match and a camp in Newcastle prior to flying out, but the plan is to build towards that opening match. The games come thick and fast in this tournament, we’ve got a very tough group but we’re excited by that challenge.”
Forwards

Biyi Alo (Saracens)
James Chisholm (Harlequins)
Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Jonny Hill (Gloucester Rugby)
Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie)
Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Gus Jones (London Wasps)
Alex Lundberg (London Wasps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
Harry Rudkin (Leicester Tigers)
Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Walker (Leeds Carnegie)
Tom Woolstencroft (Bath Rugby)

Backs

Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby, capt)
Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Nathan Earle (Saracens)
Tom Fowlie (London Irish)
Aaron Morris (Bedford Blues)
Sam Olver (Northampton Saints)
Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)
Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)
Henry Taylor (Loughborough University)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens)

2014 JWC tournament schedule

June 2

England U20 v Italy
ECOLight Stadium

June 6

England U20 v Australia
QBE Stadium

June 10

England U20 v Argentina
QBE Stadium

June 15
JWC semi-final

June 20
JWC final