Bailey and James Named in England U20s Squad to Face Georgia

Exeter Chiefs players Joe Bailey and Kane James have been named in the England U20s matchday squad to face Georgia.

The first England U20 Men’s matchday squad of the current Georgia tour has been confirmed.

Head coach Mark Mapletoft and assistant coach Andy Titterrell will look to employ all of the 30 touring squad members in their first encounter of the season against the Junior Lelos this Friday (7th). The fixture kicks-off at 15:00 BST at the Avchala Stadium and will be streamed live on Georgian Rugby social media channels.

Fifteen-cap Finn Carnduff resumes captaincy responsibilities for the pathway side, leading out 12 of the starting 15 players that secured the 2024 Under-20 Six Nations Championship against France at the Stade du Hameau back in March.

Saracens wing Angus Hall is the only uncapped player in the named XV having registered two tries for the U20 Men in a previous warm-up against Coventry RFC. Hall has five caps for the England U18 Men and featured in the two recent U19 outings against France and Italy, and is one of 27 of 30 touring squad members having U17, U18 or U19 caps to their name.

Mapletoft’s replacements bench includes nine Under-20 Six Nations victors as well as uncapped players Cameron Miell, Ollie Allan and Charlie Myall of Leicester Tigers, George Timmins (Bath Rugby) and Saracens’ Jack Bracken.

The second of the uncapped tests takes place at the Avchala Stadium on Wednesday 12th June (15:00 BST kick-off), which is also being streamed via Georgian Rugby social media channels.

Mark Mapletoft said: “We’re looking forward to seeing what’s in store over the next week. The team have adapted and trained with clear focus points after a long trip to Tbilisi and are incredibly eager to take to the field.

“The coaches and I have been careful to manage the game time we’re giving to the players; we have an extensive matchday squad and we intend to utilise as many minutes and combinations across our group as possible.

“Whilst we’re acutely aware of what’s over the horizon, our full focus remains on putting our best foot forward ahead of what will be two very challenging tests against Georgia away from home.”

England U20 Men’s team to face Georgia (includes current club, community club and U20 caps)

15 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, West Park Leeds RFC, 5 caps)

14 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints, Bugbrooke RFC, 6 caps)

13 Oli Spencer (Newcastle Falcons, Epping Rams Rugby, 5 caps)

12 Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom Rugby Club, 4 caps)

11 Angus Hall (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, uncapped)

10 George Makepeace-Cubitt (Northampton Saints, Reading Abbey RFC, 4 caps)

9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Mold RFC, 5 caps)

1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, Broadstreet RFC, 14 caps)

2 Craig Wright (Northampton Saints, Braintree Rugby Club, 5 caps)

3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 6 caps)

4 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs, Newton Abbot RFC, 5 caps)

5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 4 caps)

6 Finn Carnduff (c) (Leicester Tigers, Market Harborough RFC, 15 caps)

7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Buckingham Rugby Club, 5 caps)

8 Nathan Michelow (Saracens, Brentwood Rugby, 10 caps)

Replacements

16 James Isaacs (Saracens, Hemel Hempstead Camelot RFC, 3 caps)

17 Cameron Miell (Leicester Tigers, Paul Roos, uncapped)

18 Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, Bishop Wand School, 11 caps)

19 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears, Thornbury RFC, 10 caps)

20 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 4 caps)

21 Harvey Cuckson (Bath Rugby, Mold RFC, 2 caps)

22 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St Peters RFC, 4 caps)

23 George Timmins (Bath Rugby, Market Harborough RFC, uncapped)

24 Ollie Allan (Leicester Tigers, Hungerford RFC, uncapped)

25 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 4 caps)

26 Charlie Myall (Leicester Tigers, Maidenhead Rugby Club, uncapped)

27 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Minchinhampton RFC, 4 caps)

28 Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans Rugby Club, uncapped)

29 Alex Wills (Sale Sharks, Droitwich Rugby Club, 7 caps)

30 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins, Chipstead Rugby Club, 7 caps)