England men’s U20 head coach Alan Dickens is looking forward to getting to work after naming his 32-man Elite Player Squad (EPS) that will form the basis of the group for the 2021 Under-20s Six Nations.
Dickens has included six players already capped at U20 level in his squad with Harvey Beaton, Jack Clement, Luke Green, Sam Riley, Tom Roebuck and Jack van Poortvliet all selected.
The player pathway programme is a vital development tool for future full international rugby – of the 31 players selected in England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad, 81 percent played for England U20s, 77 percent for England U18s, while 87 per cent came through a club academy.
Dickens has been joined in the England U20s coaching set-up by Andy Titterrell as forwards coach, following previous experience with Wasps where he became part of the coaching team in 2014.
Titterrell was also forwards coach for England Saxons on their tour of South Africa in 2016, having toured as a player with the British & Irish Lions in 2005 and won the Premiership with Sale in 2006.
The former hooker’s club career took in stints with Gloucester Rugby, Leeds Carnegie and Edinburgh Rugby, while he was capped five times by England.
Dickens said: “Selection for the squad has been based on a combination of things: the four previous regional games we had at St George’s Park, the work we do with the club academies and coaches, plus our knowledge of the players within the pathway.
“We can only name 32 in the EPS and there will be some disappointed players but we have a much wider squad that we know will be involved and will contribute during the year.
“It’s great to have Andy Titterrell join the U20s coaching team. He has a wealth of experience from playing and coaching, having represented England and been on a Lions tour during his playing days.
“I worked with him previously on the 2016 Saxons tour to South Africa and know he’s going to be a valuable member of the U20s management group.
“2020 has been a challenging year but we faced that head on ensuring we had contact with players within the pathway – firstly by setting up calls between them and those in the senior England men’s squad.
“We then had mini regional camps which were something different but allowed us to get to know more of the players who were U20s eligible and we built from that into the four regional games.
“It has given me and the whole management team a much better platform to know the players better sooner and we’re really looking forward to getting back to preparations with this group.
“I’d also like to thank all the Premiership clubs, the academies, the coaches and Premiership Rugby for their support, particularly over the past year. It’s been a really collaborative effort.”
England men U20s Elite Player Squad – 2021
Forwards: Ben Bamber (Bristol Bears), Harvey Beaton (Saracens), Phil Brantingham (Newcastle Falcons), Lucas Brooke (London Irish), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby), Luke Green (London Irish), Alex Groves (Bristol Bears), Lewis Holsey (Worcester Warriors), Ethan Hunt (Gloucester Rugby), Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby), Marcus Rhodes (London Irish), Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby), Sam Riley (Harlequins), Ethan Staddon (Bath Rugby), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby)
Backs: Charlie Atkinson (Wasps), Seb Atkinson (Worcester Warriors), Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears), Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby), Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), Will Joseph (London Irish), Dan Lancaster (Leeds Tykes), Tommy Mathews (Northampton Saints), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Fin Smith (Worcester Warriors), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
