England Under-20s take shape
England have announced their revised Under-20 Elite Player Squad for this season's major tournaments.
Head coach Mark Mapletoft has made two changes to the 32-man group taking part in the U20 Six Nations that kicks off in February and in this summer's IRB Junior World Championship.
London Irish centre Jonathan Joseph and Harlequins lock Charlie Matthews, both 18, join an experienced group that includes 16 players capped at this level last season.
Matthews takes over from injured Harlequins teammate Joe Trayfoot and Joseph - who has appeared in the LV= Cup for his club side this season - replaces London Wasps fullback Jack Wallace.
Mapletoft said: "The strength in depth we have is increasing. I'm really pleased with the game time our players have been getting as well in the Guinness Premiership and the support and buy-in from the clubs has been a real positive. Our objective is that it will give England more and more options at a senior level in the years to come.
"It is likely that we will be without [Sale Sharks lock] James Gaskell for at least part of the RBS U20 Six Nations and we were looking for someone with similar qualities for the lineout who's tall and athletic, and Charlie fits the bill.
"I was impressed with him playing for England Under-18 on their unbeaten tour to South Africa last year and in the Guinness A League. He played well for the England Academies Under-19 side against Australian Schools in December and impressed me and [Under 20 coach] Rob Hunter at last month’s training camp in Portugal.
"I'm really pleased for JJ [Joseph]. He had some areas to work on that we'd talked about in September and he's been very good this season.
"He's had a run-out for the first team in the LV= Cup, he's solid defensively, makes things happen with ball in hand and he's extremely coachable. He's stuck his hand up over the last few months and it's nice to be able to reward that."
England completed a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 and reached the last two IRB Junior World Championship finals.
There are seven survivors from the 2009 JWC squad, including Gaskell, leading points scorer Tom Homer (London Irish), flyhalf Rory Clegg (Harlequins) and hooker Jamie George (Saracens).
Also included is 18-year-old London Wasps wing Christian Wade, who has appeared for England at the George and Dubai tournaments in this seasons IRB Sevens Series.
The squad has a week's training camp starting on January 18 before reassembling for the build-up to the opening game of the Six Nations against Wales which takes place at Gloucester on February 5 (7.45pm).
England Under 20 Elite Player Squad:
Forwards: Joe Marler (Harlequins)**, Lee Imiolek (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens)**, Arthur Ellis (London Wasps)*, Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby)**, Mako Vunipola (Bristol Rugby), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Calum Green (Leicester Tigers), Danny Wright (Gloucester Rugby)*, James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)**, Peter Elder (London Wasps)*, Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Jamie Gibson (London Irish)*, Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie)*, Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons), Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons), Jackson Wray (Saracens)
Backs: Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers)*, Jordi Pasqualin (Gloucester Rugby)*, Sam Stuart (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)*, Rory Clegg (Harlequins)**, Jake Sharp (Saracens), Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons), Tom Casson (Saracens)*, Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Sam Smith (Harlequins), Christian Wade (London Wasps), Marcus Watson (London Irish), Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers)**, Tom Homer (London Irish)**,
**2009 Junior World Cup squad
*Capped in the 2009 RBS U20 Six Nations
England’s RBS U20 Six Nations fixtures
Feb 5: England U20 v Wales U20 (Gloucester, 7.45pm) live on Sky Sports
Feb 12: Italy U20 v England U20 (San Dona di Piave, 6pm)
Feb 26: England U20 v Ireland U20 (Gloucester, 7.45pm)
Mar 12: Scotland U20 v England U20 (Firhill, 7.30pm)
Mar 21: France U20 v England U20 (St Nazaire, 3pm)