Fisilau named in U20s side to face Ireland

By Connor McGoverne
22/6/23

Exeter Chiefs youngster Greg Fisilau has been named in England's Under-20s side to face Ireland U20 to open their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign in South Africa on Saturday, June 24 (12:30pm) at Paarl Gymnasium.

The talented back-row forward, who featured prominently in last season's Six Nations Championship, will line-up alongside Leicester Tigers lock Lewis Chessum, who captains the side which features four players who will earn their first England U20 caps on Saturday.

Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Afolabi Fasogbon are the starting props, with Finn Theobald-Thomas completing the front row at hooker. Harvey Cuckson is set to earn his first England U20 cap when he joins the skipper in the second row.

The backrow sees Finn Carnduff (blind-side flanker), Fisilau (open-side flanker) and Chandler Cunningham-South (No.8) combine. Charlie Bracken is the side's scrum-half, starting in the halves alongside Connor Slevin who will steer the backline in his debut.

Joseph Woodward and Rekeiti Ma'asi White again pair up in the midfield, continuing their partnership from this year's Under-20 Six Nations tournament. In the back three, Joe Jenkins and Tobias Elliott are the wingers and Sam Harris lines up at fullback.

Head coach Mark Mapletoft said: “Firstly, congratulations to all players selected to represent their country in our first game of the World Rugby U20 Championship. For many players this tournament will be the highlight of their rugby journeys so far, providing the opportunity for them to develop in an environment that emulates the challenges that hopefully awaits in the senior international arena in future years.

“We’ve had a good week of preparation since landing in Cape Town last week and the players are ready for the challenge Ireland presents. They were the dominant team in this year’s U20 Six Nations tournament, and we’re relishing the chance to take them head on to open our campaign.”

The match against Ireland is the first of England’s three pool matches, with a full playing schedule is available on the World Rugby website.

England U20 team v Ireland U20

1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
2. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Gloucester)
3. Afolabi Fasogbon
4. Harvey Cuckson* (Bath Rugby)
5. Lewis Chessum (Captain, Leicester Tigers)
6. Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers)
7. Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
8. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
9. Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
10. Connor Slevin* (Harlequins)
11. Joe Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
12. Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)
13. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White (Sale Sharks)
14. Tobias Elliott (Harlequins)
15. Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)

Replacements

16. Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
17. Archie McArthur (Gloucester)
18. James Halliwell* (Bristol Bears)
19. Nathan Michelow* (Saracens)
20. Tristan Woodman (Sale Sharks)
21. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
22. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)
23. Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers)

*Denotes England U20 debut