Bailey and James Named in England U20s Squad to Face France

Exeter Chiefs young duo Joe Bailey and Kane James have been named in the England U20s squad to face France this weekend.

Mark Mapletoft and Andy Titterrell have named their final matchday squad of the 2024 Under-20 Men’s Six Nations Championship as England U20 Men travel to France in Round 5.

The U20 Men play out their last remaining fixture of the tournament this Friday when they face Sebastien Calvet’s men at the Stade du Hameau in Pau, kicking off at 20:00 GMT and will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer.

James Isaacs (Saracens) and George Makepeace-Cubitt (Rams RFC) earn their first starts for the England U20 Men’s side, two of four alterations to the starting XV with Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby) and Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs) also reintroduced. It will be the second time in the tournament, after a 30-17 win against Scotland, that U20 management have fielded no previously uncapped players in their matchday 23.

Jones’ inclusion means Ben Redshaw takes the 11 jersey, with Jacob Oliver, Olamide Sodeke and Josh Bellamy looking to provide further support from the replacements bench.

Finn Carnduff will lead his side onto the pitch as tournament pacesetters after a 32-all draw against Ireland in Round 4 at the Recreation Ground, sitting one point ahead of last week’s opponents and five ahead of Friday’s hosts.

Sean Kerr contributed another double-figure haul from the boot in consecutive Player of the Match performances, his 12 points vital to keeping his side at the summit of the Championship table.

Carnduff, the tournament front runner in lineout takes (34), registered his third try of 2024 in Bath and earns his 15th U20 cap when he faces France, his sixth as captain.

Mapletoft and Titterrell’s cohort face a France side who have an even split of wins and defeats, coming unstuck to Ireland and Italy yet picking up the most bonus points of any side this year (five).

“The team are incredibly excited for Friday night. These are the types of fixtures we all want to be part of in rugby and we’ll savour the opportunity we now have,” said England U20 Men’s head coach Mark Mapletoft.

“I’ve been impressed with the resilient mindset of our team after last week’s result, it’s a strong reminder to myself, Andy and the coaches what a special group we’re lucky to possess this year. It was a fantastic crowd last week, and I want to thank all of those who have come out to support us at the Rec.

“The team have worked extremely hard and are intent on leaving their mark on this fixture, and this tournament overall, against what will be one of our biggest challenges yet in Pau.”

England U20s:

15 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Minchinhampton RFC, 3 caps)

14 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints, Bugbrooke RFC, 5 caps)

13 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins, Chipstead Rugby Club, 6 caps)

12 Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Effingham and Leatherhead RFC, 3 caps)

11 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, West Park Leeds RFC, 4 caps)

10 George Makepeace-Cubitt (Rams RFC, Reading Abbey RFC, 3 caps)

9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, 3 caps)

1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, Broadstreet RFC, 13 caps)

2 James Isaacs (Saracens, Hemel Hempstead Camelot RFC, 1 cap)

3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 4 caps)

4 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs, Newton Abbot Rugby Club, 4 caps)

5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 3 caps)

6 Finn Carnduff (c) (Leicester Tigers, Market Harborough RFC, 14 caps)

7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Banbury RFC, 4 caps)

8 Nathan Michelow (Saracens, Coopers Company and Coborn School, 9 caps)

Replacements:

16 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle Rugby Club, 4 caps)

17 Scott Kirk (Bath Rugby, Michaelhouse College, 4 caps)

18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears, Thornbury Broncos Rugby Club, 8 caps)

19 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby, 3 caps)

20 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St Peters RFC, 3 caps)

21 Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons, Northern Football Club, 3 caps)

22 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 3 caps)

23 Oli Spencer (Newcastle Falcons, Epping Rams Rugby, 3 caps)