Chiefs duo named in Under-20s squad

Exeter Chiefs duo Stu Townsend and Sam Skinner have both been named in the England Under-20s squad for Friday’s Six Nations game against Italy at Brickfields in Plymouth (kick off 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports).

Scrum-half Townsend will again start the game, whilst back-row forward Skinner - who has impressed for the Chiefs in their recent LV= Cup games against Dragons and Saracens - starts on the bench.

England are looking to bounce back from their opening day 21-15 defeat against Wales and have made one change to their starting line-up for the clash with Leicester Tigers centre Charlie Thacker comes into the side, replacing Bath Rugby’s Max Clark.

Looking ahead to the fixture, Forwards Coach Ian Peel says that the squad are in a good place. He said: “The lads have responded very well this week. They were obviously gutted after the Wales result but have taken a lot of learnings from that game and we’re looking to transfer that from training pitch to the game on Friday night.

“Italy will be big and physical. They’ve got a good driving game, good runners and like to play with pace. It’ll be a tough game.”

For ticket information please call Plymouth Albion on 01752 565064.

England Under-20s starting XV against Italy

15 Piers O'Conor (Wasps Rugby)
14 George Perkins (Saracens)
13 Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
12 Charlie Thacker (Leicester Tigers)
11 Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)
10 Rory Jennings (Bath Rugby)
9 Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs)
1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Rugby)
2 Jack Walker (Yorkshire Carnegie)
3 Paul Hill (Yorkshire Carnegie)
4 Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, capt)
6 Charlie Beckett (Leicester Tigers)
7 Will Owen (Leicester Tigers)
8 James Chisholm (Harlequins)

Replacements

16 Jake Farnworth (Leicester Tigers)
17 Tom West (Wasps Rugby)
18 Ciaran Parker (Sale Sharks)
19 Joe Batley (Gloucester Rugby)
20 Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs)
21 James Mitchell (Sale Sharks)
22 Tom Morton (Sale Sharks)
23 Tom Howe (Wasps Rugby)