Five Chiefs Involved for England U20 Against Italy

Four Chiefs will start for England U20 this Friday evening with Oscar Beckerleg in line from his debut from the bench.

Nic Allison and Campbell Ridl start in the backline together with Louie Gulley in the hooker shirt and Kane James at number eight.

Head coach Mark Mapletoft and assistant coach Andy Titterrell have named their matchday 23 to face Italy this Friday (7th, 19:45 GMT kick-off).

The Men’s Pathway side host the Azzurrini at Bath Rugby’s Recreation Ground in Round 4 of the 2025 U20 Men’s Six Nations after three wins in as many rounds for England. The match will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer.

Sale Sharks lock Tom Burrow captains the team with front-row forwards Oli Scola (Northampton Saints) and Louie Gulley (Exeter Chiefs) awarded their first starts at U20 level.

Dom Hanson of Sale Sharks makes his full debut at scrum-half, with Harlequins’ Josh Bellamy and Nic Allison (Exeter Chiefs) also returning to the starting XV.

Tubuna Maka (Leicester Tigers), Oscar Beckerleg (Exeter Chiefs) and Joe Davis (Newcastle Falcons) are in line for their first U20 caps if utilised from the replacements bench.

Andy Titterrell said: “Italy posed many challenges for us at U19 and U20 level last year and made us work hard for our wins, but in preparation for this game the focus has ultimately remained on ourselves and our game plan.

“We’re confident in our processes and the squad as a whole have demonstrated their understanding of our ethos as a team in relentless fashion. Transition between squad members has been seamless and that’s down to the ownership taken by our Brotherhood to always get better and better.

“Ultimately, we’re striving to be ambitious in our approach and clinical in every area of our game. After receiving fantastic support throughout the tournament, we want to seize the opportunity once again in front of another big home crowd this Friday night.”

England U20

15 George Pearson (Leicester Tigers, Buckingham RFC, 1 cap)

14 Jack Bracken (Saracens, Barnet Elizabethans, 8 caps)

13 Angus Hall (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, 9 caps)

12 Nic Allison (Exeter Chiefs, Bishops Diocesan College, 2 caps)

11 Campbell Ridl (Exeter Chiefs, Sharks, 1 cap)

10 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 13 caps)

9 Dom Hanson (Sale Sharks, Stockport RFC, 1 cap)

1 Oliver Scola (Northampton Saints, Old Northamptonians RFC, 3 caps)

2 Louie Gulley (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, 3 caps)

3 Tye Raymont (Sale Sharks, West Park Leeds RFC, 3 caps)

4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 14 caps)

5 Tom Burrow (c) (Sale Sharks, Morley RUFC, 3 caps)

6 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 13 caps)

7 George Timmins (Bath Rugby, Market Harborough RUFC, 5 caps)

8 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St. Peter’s RFC, 12 caps)

Replacements

16 Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, Cwmbran RFC, 3 caps)

17 Ralph McEachran (Sale Sharks, Guildford RFC, 3 caps)

18 Tubuna Maka (Leicester Tigers, Birmingham Moseley RFC, uncapped)

19 Oscar Beckerleg (Exeter Chiefs, Penzance and Newlyn RFC, uncapped)

20 Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, New Milton Rugby Club, 1 cap)

21 Joe Davis (Newcastle Falcons, Bishop Auckland RUFC, uncapped)

22 Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Macclesfield RUFC, 1 cap)

23 Jack Kinder (Leicester Tigers, Silhillians RUFC, 2 caps)