Bath Rugby Academy player Charlie Ewels has been named in the England under-20s starting XV to take on France in their Six Nations opener on Friday.
Lock Ewels is handed a berth in the Red Rose second-row, while fellow Bath Academy members Tom Woolstencroft, Adam Jamieson and Tom Ellis are on the bench at the Stade Leo Lagrange in Draguignan.
Bath Academy director Danny Grewcock said: “It’s a pleasing reflection on the hard work the boys have put in.
“Tom and Charlie have been through the England programme before, and all four have been key to Bath’s A League success this year.
“This is testament to the club’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and I’m sure the boys will be competing for first-team places in the near future.”
Scrum half Callum Braley captains England for the first time. Seven of the 23 have previous under-20s experience, while 11 played for England under-18s last season.
Coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel are hoping for a fourth successive title, but head coach Walshe says that performance is key.
He said: “Playing France in France is about as tough as you can get in the Six Nations. We played them twice last season and performed well on both occasions.
“Will that have a bearing on Friday night? We’d like to think so, but we need to execute our basics well and the rest will take care of itself.”
England Under-20s side to play France: 15 Nathan Earle (Saracens), 14 Zach Kibirige (Newcastle Falcons), 13 Nick Tompkins (Saracens), 12 Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints), 11 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers), 10 Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby), 9 Callum Braley (c) (Bristol Rugby), 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), 2 Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers), 3 Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie), 4 Maro Itoje (Saracens), 5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), 6 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), 7 Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs), 8 James Chisholm (Harlequins). Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft (Bath Rugby), 17 Alex Lundberg (London Wasps), 18 Adam Jamieson (Bath Rugby), 19 Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby), 20 Will Owen (Leicester Tigers), 21 Henry Taylor (Loughborough University), 22 Sam Olver (Northampton Saints), 23 Howard Packman (Northampton Saints).
Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-rpa-set-online-free-agent-list-123940260--spt.html
England under-20s hand Bath Rugby Academy lock Charlie Ewels starting spot ...
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