Bailey and James Named in England U20s Side to Face Oxford University

Chiefs players Joe Bailey and Kane James have been selected for the England U20s side to face Oxford University this weekend.

Mark Mapletoft and Andy Titterrell have selected their matchday 25 for a trip to Oxford University this Saturday (14:00 kick-off) as their England U20 Men ramp up preparations for the 2024 U20 Six Nations.

Iffley Road hosted its biggest crowd in a decade in last year’s meeting of the sides on an afternoon where the U20 Men emerged 54-31 victors, and this weekend’s action promises more of the same with tickets still available to purchase here.

Leicester Tigers’ Finn Carnduff succeeds Nathan Michelow’s captaincy against Bath United for the weekend and starts as blindside flanker for the pathway side in the uncapped fixture in Oxfordshire.

The experienced youngster, who boasts 10 U20 caps for his country, leads the team after adding three more Premiership Rugby Cup appearances to his total of nine overall for his hometown club this season.

Carnduff is one of seven previously-capped members of the travelling squad; Toby Cousins, Ben Waghorn, Craig Wright and Zach Carr, as well as replacement forwards James Halliwell and Joe Bailey.

Jack Bennett links back up with the squad ahead of Saturday’s trip and joins Bath Rugby clubmate Scott Kirk in the pack’s finishers; Kirk continuing as five non-EPS members in the squad’s makeup alongside scrum halves Ben Douglas and Max Blinkhorn, lock Junior Kpoku and centre Ollie Spencer.

Browns Sports Resort in Portugal played host to the pathway outfit’s opening meeting of the 2023/24 season in December with subsequent game time in the West Country last week.

Following on from a competitive reverse at the hands of Bath United at Dings Crusaders last Saturday (6th), finishing 42-33 in favour of Andy Robinson’s men, the U20 set-up resumed training at home base Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre this week.

Five tries from U20 Men Toby Cousins, Lucas Schmid, Zach Carr, Ollie Spencer and Ioan Jones were outmatched by Bath scores through Austin Emens, Ewan Richards, Louie Hennessey, George Worboys, Ieuan Davies and a penalty try.

Upon completion of Saturday’s encounter, attention turns to England U20 Men’s opening 2024 U20 Six Nations fixture against Italy at the Stadio Monigo, Treviso, on 2 February (19:15 GMT kick-off).

England U20 Men’s head coach Mark Mapletoft said: “There were a lot of positive spells and contributions from the lads against a tough Bath United side that have given us plenty of encouragement heading into Oxford and then Italy.

“We’re looking to really gel this squad away from the pitch and build momentum on it – we have an eager group of boys here that are keen to showcase their talents across a full 80 minutes.

“Rest assured, we as a group have put in a great deal of work at Bisham this past week aiming to match Oxford, who provided a stern test last year ahead of the Six Nations.”

A ticket bundle for England U20 Men’s home U20 Six Nations fixtures at the Rec against Wales and Ireland can be purchased here.

England U20 Men's side to face Oxford University

15 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby)

14 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints) *

13 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins) *

12 Sean Kerr (Harlequins)

11 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons)

10 Rory Taylor (Gloucester Rugby)

9 Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons)

1 Cameron Miell (Leicester Tigers)

2 Craig Wright (Northampton Saints) *

3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby)

4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens)

5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92)

6 Finn Carnduff (C) (Leicester Tigers) *

7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)

8 Zach Carr (Harlequins) *

Replacements

16 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons)

17 Scott Kirk (Bath Rugby)

18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears) *

19 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs) *

20 Jack Bennett (Bath Rugby)

21 Max Blinkhorn (Nottingham University)

22 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs)

23 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)

24 Malelili Satala (Leicester Tigers)

25 Ollie Spencer (Newcastle Falcons)