Chiefs in U20s side to face Ireland

By Mark Stevens
30/1/19

Three Exeter Chiefs players have been named by England Under-20s head coach Steve Bates ahead of his side's Six Nations opener against Ireland at the Irish Independent Park in Cork on Friday 1 February (KO 19.15 GMT).

Prop Marcus Street and scrum-half Sam Maunder will both start the game, while utility forward Rus Tuima is included on the replacements bench.

The side will be captained by Fraser Dingwall at outside centre and includes full senior international Ted Hill at openside flanker.

Nine players in the starting XV have been capped at this level, with seven playing in the final of the 2018 World Rugby U20 Championship in France.

As well as Dingwall and Hill, lock Joel Kpoku, flanker Aaron Hinkley, No 8 Tom Willis, fly-half Marcus Smith and centre Tom Hardwick were part of the side that lost to France in Beziers last summer. Meanwhile, Street will be appearing in his third U20 Six Nations Championship, while England’s replacements also include four players capped at this age group.

Among the replacements is centre Cameron Redpath who earned selection for the senior tour to South Africa last summer, before being ruled out through injury.

In the starting XV, Maunder, together with prop Olly Adkins, hooker Nic Dolly, lock Alex Coles and wing Ollie Sleightholme will all make their U20s debut with Ben Atkins, Bevan Rodd, Ollie Fox and Tuima set to do likewise as replacements.

Bates said: “The message to the squad this week has been that this is a great opportunity for them to show how good they are at the start of another Six Nations campaign and they should play with confidence.

“This is a very exciting, talented group of players and they should not forget to play like it, we have to go out there on Friday and really express ourselves on the pitch but we know we have to respect the opposition who will be positive about their chances in this competition as well.

“This is a team full of experience, who are hugely talented and it is a shame we can only pick 15 as we’ve left out some very good players.

“The replacements will all be expected to make an impact on Friday, while the wider squad who will not be in Ireland, will also be required at various points in the competition and we need everyone to stay involved as they will play further down the line.”

England U20s to face Ireland U20s

15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
14. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
13. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, capt)
12. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
1. Olly Adkins (Gloucester)
2. Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks)
3. Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester)
8. Tom Willis (Wasps)

Replacements:

16. Ben Atkins (London Irish)
17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
20. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
21. Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie)
22. Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
23. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors)

England U20 Six Nations fixtures:

Ireland v England

Friday 1 February, KO 19.15 GMT

Irish Independent Park, Cork

England v France

Saturday 9 February, KO 12.05 GMT – live on Sky Sports

Sandy Park, Exeter. For tickets, please visit: englandrugby.com/tickets

Wales v England

Friday, 22 February, KO 19.05 GMT – live on S4C

ZipWorld Stadium, Colwyn Bay. For tickets, please visit: wru.wales/tickets

England v Italy

Friday, 8 March, KO 19.45 – live on Sky Sports

Goldington Road, Bedford. For tickets, please visit: englandrugby.com/tickets

England v Scotland

Friday, 15 March, KO 19.45 – live on Sky Sports

Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton. For tickets, please visit: englandrugby.com/tickets