Four Northampton Saints starlets are set to feature for England in the 2025 U20 Six Nations opener against Ireland – with Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, Henry Pollock, Archie McParland and Ollie Scola all named in the matchday 23.
Back row Pollock – who links back up with the U20s after training with England’s senior squad in Girona last week – and scrum-half McParland have become regular features in Saints' teams this season, and join with Mark Mapletoft’s side once again as they look to defend their Championship title.
Meanwhile prop Scola and lock Ainsworth-Cave are amongst eight players primed to make their U20 debuts this weekend, as England face off with Ireland at Virgin Media Park on Thursday 30 January (kick-off: 7.45pm).
England head coach Mark Mapletoft said: “As a team, we want to take a relentless approach from minute one and make our mark on the Six Nations once again this year.
“Coming into the tournament as previous winners is a privilege, but the highest level of expectation will come from the players themselves who want to play with freedom and uphold our principles of speed, attachment and space.
“The squad have been working diligently to match our demands of them and are ready for a tough opening challenge in Ireland. We’ve had some exciting matchups in recent times, and we know we’ll have another testing game against Neil’s [Doak] side this week.”
The reigning champions’ match in Cork will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer.
ENGLAND U20 MEN TEAM TO FACE IRELAND
15 Jack Kinder (Leicester Tigers, Silhillians RUFC, uncapped)
14 Jack Bracken (Saracens, Barnet Elizabethans, 5 caps)
13 Angus Hall (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, 6 caps)
12 Nic Allison (Exeter Chiefs, Bishops Diocesan College, uncapped)
11 Charlie Griffin (Bath Rugby, Rosslyn Park, uncapped)
10 Ben Coen (Exeter Chiefs, Teignmouth RFC, 5 caps)
9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, 5 caps)
1 Ralph McEachran (Sale Sharks, Guildford RFC, uncapped)
2 Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, Cwmbran RFC, uncapped)
3 Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 9 caps)
4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 11 caps)
5 Tom Burrow (c) (Sale Sharks, Morley RUFC, uncapped)
6 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 11 caps)
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Buckingham Rugby Club, 12 caps)
8 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St. Peter’s RFC, 9 caps)
Replacements:
16 Louie Gulley (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, uncapped)
17 Ollie Scola (Northampton Saints, Old Northamptonians RFC, uncapped)
18 Tye Raymont (Sale Sharks, West Park Leeds RFC, uncapped)
19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, Bedford Junior Blues, uncapped)
20 George Timmins (Bath Rugby, Market Harborough RUFC, 2 caps)
21 Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Bromley RFC, 6 caps)
22 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 10 caps)
23 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge RFC, uncapped)
