Quartet named in U20s squad

By Mark Stevens
6/3/19

Four Exeter Chiefs players have been named by Steve Bates in his England Under-20s side to face Italy in the fourth round of the U20 Six Nations Championship at Bedford’s Goldington Road on Friday (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports).

Youngsters Alfie Petch and Rus Tuima both start the contest, while Richard Capstick and Sam Maunder have been named amongst the replacements.

A try-scorer against Wales last time out, No.8 Tuima gets his first-ever Under-20s start as one of three changes Bates has made to his starting XV. The other changes see James Scott comes into the second row in place of Alex Coles, while Tuima's inclusion means Tom Willis switches to blindside flanker.

Tom Seabrook comes in at outside centre, replacing the injured Connor Doherty, while Willis will captain the side for a second-successive match.

Bates’ side are looking for a second win in the Championship, having defeated world champions France in Exeter, while England have lost their away fixtures to Ireland and Wales.

Following Friday’s game in Bedford, England will end their Championship against Scotland at Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens on Friday, March 15.

Bates said: “On reflection we had a disappointing result against Wales but we played a lot of rugby in the manner we had prepared to, we just didn’t execute it as clinically as we’d liked to.

“The message to the squad is to continue to believe in what we are doing, be a bit more accurate in the final third and make sure the pressure we are putting on our opponents is turned into some scoreboard advantage.

“We saw against France in Exeter how much of a part home support can have and the players are all looking forward to taking on Italy in Bedford and we are hopeful it can give us that extra edge over Italy.”

England U20s side to face Italy U20s

15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
14. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
13. Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby)
12. Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby)
11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish)
10. Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks)
9. Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie)
1. Olly Adkins (Gloucester Rugby)
2. Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks)
3. Alfie Petch (Exeter Chiefs)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
6. Tom Willis (Wasps, capt)
7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby)
8. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)

Replacements:

16. Samson Ma'asi (Northampton Saints)
17. Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors)
18. Jack Bartlett (Gloucester Rugby)
19. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
20. Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
21. Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
22. Manu Vunipola (Saracens)
23. Jack Reeves (Gloucester Rugby)