England
England U20 Men’s head coach Mark Mapletoft has named his matchday squad for Round 2 of the 2025 U20 Six Nations against France.
Sale Sharks’ Tom Burrow retains the captaincy for a second consecutive match, while Bath Rugby’s George Timmins earns his first U20 Men’s start at blindside flanker on home turf.
Harlequins’ Lucas Friday, who led the side in a warm-up match against Bath United, makes his full debut as the only change to the backline from Round 1.
Exeter Chiefs lock Oscar Beckerleg and Sale Sharks’ Dom Hanson are in line for their U20 competitive debuts from the bench.
Mark Mapletoft said: “We’re excited to be returning to The Rec for our first home fixture in 11 months, and there are few bigger occasions in the calendar than a meeting with France. “A big, energised crowd will be key but we’re not resting on our laurels. The last outing against Ireland gave us much to refine and the boys have rallied together to take ownership of the improvements to make. “Our focus as a Brotherhood is to maximise the opportunities in front of us in order to dictate the game on our own terms. Given our recent meetings with France, this will be no easy feat, and the expectation is for another thrilling test against a determined side.”
France
After France U20's impressive first round victory against Wales in Vannes, the Bleuets are preparing to challenge England in Bath.
For this second match, the French staff made six changes to the starting XV. Isaac Koffi Sedjoro, Baptiste Britz, Thibaut Motassi and Oliver Cowie are named in the squad, playing their first minutes in the 2025 U20 Six Nations.
Cédric LABORDE (France Under-20 Manager): “For the Crunch against England, we have chosen a balance between continuity and novelty. It was important to capitalise on the positive momentum of the team that performed very well against Wales last weekend.
These players showed cohesion, intensity and good offensive intentions. At the same time, we have integrated new blood. Some players bring energy, freshness and different profiles to respond to the English power. We are also integrating players who have had playing time with their professional team and who joined us later.
The goal is to bring density, and variety to our game, while maintaining a solid base of certainties. The Crunch is always a special match, full of history and intensity. Against a very physical and disciplined English team, we needed a group capable of responding with commitment.
Each player selected was selected for what they could bring to the team, whether it was through their importance in the project or their ability to make a difference. We have confidence in this group. It has the qualities to take on the challenge."
