England national under-20 rugby union team

Last updated
England U-20
England rugby textlogo.svg
Union Rugby Football Union
EmblemRed Rose
Ground Twickenham
Coach Mark Mapletoft
Captain Finn Carnduff
Top scorer Tom Homer
Most tries Jonny May
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Team kit
Kit left arm englandrugby21a.png
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Change kit
First international
Flag of England.svg England 28–15 Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(1 Feb 2008)
Largest win
Flag of England.svg England 109–0 United States Flag of the United States.svg
(13 June 2013)
Largest defeat
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 64–17 England Flag of England.svg
(18 June 2017)
World Cup
Appearances13 (First in 2008)
Best resultChampions (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024)

The England Under 20 rugby team are the newest representative rugby union team from England. They replace the two former age grade teams Under 19s and Under 21s. They compete in the annual Six Nations Under 20s Championship and World Rugby Under 20 Championship.

Contents

The head coach of the team is Alan Dickens. [1]

World Rugby Under 20 Championship

Their first tournament was the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship, in which they took second place, being defeated by New Zealand 3–38 in the final. [2] The following year saw England finish runners up to New Zealand again at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship. [3]

At the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship, they reached the semi-finals after winning all of their pool stage games against Argentina, Ireland and France. [4] They lost the semi-final to Australia 16–28 [5] and then lost against South Africa 22–27 to finish in 4th place. [6] England finished runners up to New Zealand again at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. [7]

At the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship, England defeated New Zealand 33-21 in the semi-final. [8] In the final against Wales, tries from Jack Nowell and Sam Hill saw England recover from a dozen point half-time deficit to become World Champions at junior level for the first time. [9]

England retained their title at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship, defeating South Africa in the final. [10] The following year saw England lose in the final of the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship to New Zealand. [11] England hosted the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. [12] They regained the title after defeating Ireland in the final. [13]

England were runners up to both New Zealand at the 2017 tournament [14] and hosts France at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. [15] England won the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship, defeating France 21-13 in the final. [16] [17]


Championship record

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 2008 Runners-up2nd5401148104
Flag of Japan.svg 2009 Runners-up2nd540119379
Flag of Argentina.svg 2010 Semi-final4th5302139107
Flag of Italy.svg 2011 Runners-up2nd5401153114
Flag of South Africa.svg 2012 Pool stage7th530212888
Flag of France.svg 2013 Champions1st540121973
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2014 Champions1st550018178
Flag of Italy.svg 2015 Runners-up2nd530215194
Flag of England.svg 2016 Champions1st550019361
Flag of Georgia.svg 2017 Runners-up2nd5401169144
Flag of France.svg 2018 Runners-up2nd540117497
Flag of Argentina.svg 2019 Pool stage5th5401181147
2020–2022Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Flag of South Africa.svg 2023 Semi-final4th5122155137
Flag of South Africa.svg 2024 Champions1st550015777
Flag of Italy.svg 2025 Pool stage6th5302205168
Total15/154 Titles75562172,5461,568

Overall

All results, up to and including the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.

OpponentPlayedWonLostDrawn% Won
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 3300
100%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 7610
85.71%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 1100
100%
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji 1100
100%
Flag of France.svg France 181260
66.67%
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 201370
65.00%
Flag of Italy.svg Italy 181710
94.45%
Flag of Japan.svg Japan 2200
100%
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 6150
16.66%
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa 2200
100%
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland 171520
88.23%
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa 11830
72.72%
Flag of the United States.svg United States 1100
100%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 161330
81.25%
Total12395280
77.87%

Players

Current squad

This is the England U20 Men’s Elite Player Squad for the for the 2025/26 season. [18]

PlayerPositionClub
Aiden Ainsworth-Cave Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
Olly Allport Flag of England.svg Gloucester
Diamond Ayiehfor Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Jonno Balding Flag of England.svg Gloucester
Charlie Barker Flag of England.svg Saracens
Sam Bland Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Kealan Freeman-Price Flag of England.svg Gloucester
Jerold Gorleku Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Kieran Hill Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Patrick Hogg Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Seb Kelly Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
George Knowles Flag of England.svg Gloucester
Jack Lightbown Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
George Marsh Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Jack Murphy Flag of England.svg Saracens
Alan Poku Flag of England.svg Saracens
Oli Scola Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
Oliver Spencer Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Jimmy Staples Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Ollie Streeter Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Ethan Surrey Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Sonny Tonga’uiha Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
Connor Treacey Flag of England.svg Bath
Elliot Williams Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Tate Williams Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Ollie Batson Flag of England.svg Exeter Chiefs
Noah Caluori Flag of England.svg Saracens
Finlay Cunnison Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Jack Cotgreave Flag of England.svg Gloucester
Luke Davidson Flag of England.svg Saracens
Ollie Davies Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Zac Finch Flag of England.svg Saracens
Lucas Friday Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Kesena Izu Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Seva Kava Flag of England.svg Saracens
Will Knight Flag of England.svg Gloucester
Nick Lilley Flag of England.svg Exeter Chiefs
James Linegar Flag of England.svg Bath
Henry Lumley Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
George Newman Flag of England.svg Exeter Chiefs
Tyler Offiah Flag of England.svg Bath
James Pater Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
George Pearson Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Asa Stewart-Harris Flag of England.svg Saracens
Freddie St John Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
Tom Threlfall Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Jonny Weimann Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints
Toby Wilson Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Sam Winters Flag of England.svg Bath
Victor Worsnip Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears

Award winners

The following England U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008: [19]

World Rugby Junior Player of the Year
YearNomineesWinners
2008 Joe Simpson
2009 Carl Fearns
2011 George Ford George Ford
2013 Jack Clifford
2014 Nathan Earle
2015 James Chisholm James Chisholm
2016 Harry Mallinder
2017 Gabriel Ibitoye
Zach Mercer
2018 Gabriel Ibitoye (2)
Jordan Olowofela

Management

Honours

Winners (4): 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024
Runners-up (6): 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018
Winners (8): 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2024
Grand Slam (4): 2008, 2011, 2017, 2021
Triple Crown (6): 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021

See also

References

  1. "Steve Bates to lead the RFU's England U20s programme". Sky Sports. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  2. "England U20 3-38 NZ U20". BBC Sport. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  3. "England U20s suffer loss in Japan". BBC Sport. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  4. "England book semi-final date with Australia". ESPN Scrum. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  5. "New Zealand and Australia set up showdown". ESPN Scrum. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  6. "England settle for fourth as Baby Blacks triumph". Six Nations Rugby. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  7. "New Zealand U20 33-22 England U20". BBC Sport. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  8. "England Under-20s beat New Zealand to reach world final". BBC Sport. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  9. "Junior World Championship: Wales U20 15-23 England U20". BBC Sport. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  10. "Junior World Championship: England 21-20 South Africa". BBC Sport. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  11. "World Rugby U20 Championship: New Zealand 21-16 England". BBC Sport. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  12. "World Rugby U20 Championship: Manchester to host 2016 event". BBC Sport. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  13. "World Rugby U20 Championship 2016: England beat Ireland in final". BBC Sport. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  14. "World Under-20 Championship final: England 17-64 New Zealand". BBC Sport. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  15. "World Rugby U20 Championship: England lose out to France in final". BBC Sport. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  16. "England overpower France to win Under-20 World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  17. "England v France: Five takeaways from World Rugby U20 Championship final as 'outstanding' props send a message". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  18. "England U20 Men's Elite Player Squad announced for 2025/26". England Rugby. 17 September 2026. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  19. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.