England U20s announce 2022 squad

Ahead of the U20 Six Nations, England have selected their 32-man Elite Player Squad (EPS) for 2022.

Head coach Alan Dickens has selected ten players who have previously been capped at U20 level, or have been part of the squad before: Seb Atkinson, Deago Bailey, Finn Baxter, Lucas Brooke, Tom Carr-Smith, Emeka Ilione, Tom Litchfield, Ewan Richards, Fin Smith and John Stewart.

Alan Dickens said: “Selection for the squad has been based on a combination of things: the previous regional camps we've held, the work we do with the club academies and coaches, plus our knowledge of the players within the pathway.

“The communication and collaboration throughout the pathway are excellent and it's ensuring we identify talented players and get out to see them play early.

“I'd like to thank all the Premiership clubs, the academies, the coaches and Premiership Rugby for their support. It's been a big team effort.”

The squad is as follows:

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Alfie Bell (Wasps)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
Mark Dormer (Newcastle)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle)
Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
Will Hobson (Harlequins)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester)
Geordie Irvine (Northampton)
Tom Lockett (Northampton)
Toby Knight (Saracens)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle)
Charlie Rice (Bristol)
Ewan Richards (Bath)
John Stewart (Bath)
Mike Summerfield (London Irish)
Alex Wardell (Saracens)

Backs
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester)
Deago Bailey (Bristol)
Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
Tom Carr-Smith (Bath)
Ethan Grayson (Northampton)
Olly Hartley (Wasps)
George Hendy (Northampton)
Matty Jones (Gloucester)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton)
Fin Smith (Worcester)
Iwan Stephens (Newcastle)

Dickens and full-time forwards coach, Andy Titterrell, have been joined in the England U20s coaching set up by Jordan Turner-Hall as defence coach.

Turner-Hall is part of the Harlequins academy coaching set-up and also played for Quins over 150 times in the Premiership.

He represented his country from U16 to U20 level and was named in the England squad for the 2012 Six Nations, earning two Test caps during victories over Scotland and Italy.

On Turner-Hall's inclusion in the coaching set up – Dickens said: “He is a young and exciting coach who achieved a lot in his playing career.

“His current role at Harlequins is all about preparing academy players to transition to the senior squad and that will be hugely valuable to our players who are looking to make the same progression within the England pathway.”