FOUR Warriors players have been included in an England U20s training squad to prepare for this season’s U20s Six Nations and the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina next summer.
Blindside flanker Ted Hill, who has already been capped by England at senior level, will be joined by his Three Pears Warriors Academy team-mates Kai Owen, James Scott and Ollie Lawrence in the camp at Loughborough University from Friday to Sunday.
Hill, lock Scott and centre Lawrence have already been capped by England at U20s level but loosehead Owen prop, who made his Warriors debut as a replacement in last month’s European Challenge Cup win over Stade Francais in Paris, is an international newcomer.
The camp will give pathway coaches an opportunity to assess players further ahead of U20 Elite Player Squad (EPS) selection in January and also give them an opportunity to discuss playing themes and principles for the season ahead.
England U20s head coach Steve Bates said: “The development camp gives us an opportunity to cover some basic details with a larger number of players who could all be required at various points during the Six Nations.
“It also gives us a chance to look closely at the wider group and players outside of the 32-man EPS who might be used during the international season.
“We’ve selected the training squad through a combined effort of working with the academy management and watching the players over the past few months.
“We want the players to have high energy, a desire to play the game quickly and with a degree of flexibility. We’d like them to quickly adapt to playing with new players and to have different ideas about how to play.”
England U20s open their Six Nations campaign against Ireland at the Irish Independent Park in Cork on Friday, February 1.
The side then take on France on February 9 at Sandy Park followed by a trip to the ZipWorld Stadium in Colwyn Bay to face Wales on February 22, before a second home fixture of the tournament with the side playing Italy on March 8 at Bedford Blues’ Goldington Road.
The final match against Scotland on March 15 is at Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens.