Smith said: "Our main aim is to improve on what we achieved last year, test ourselves against the rest of the world and test our core skills at that level. If we develop as a side we should be able to get another step up the ladder from last year.

"The U18s came together well last year and I think this team is further down the track because we know each other well now - we've all played together and the group's come together well.

"At Northampton I've played lots of Wanderers and A League games this season and I hope I can get my chance in the first team next season. I've been working on a lot of things, particularly my kicking with the Academy backs coach Ali Hepher and doing a lot of extra work with the other back three players."

Hepher said: "We are very pleased that David has been called up to the U19s. He has shown great potential by scoring some good tries for the Wanderers earlier in the season before taking eight weeks out to develop his physique and to improve his strength and conditioning. He should now be in a position to enjoy a very good second half of the season."

London Wasps No 8 Hugo Ellis will lead England U19s when they kick-off the New Year's international programme against Italy at 2.15pm this Friday.

Ellis is one of six survivors from last summer's U19s World Championship in the starting line-up for the game at the London Irish ground in Sunbury where admission will be free of charge.

The 18-year-old from Ealing follows in the footsteps of Wasps clubmate Phil Vickery, who was handed the captaincy of England's senior side earlier this week.

"Hugo has got the job as much as for the force of his personality as anything else - he's very professional and an outstanding player who will lead by example," said head coach Nigel Redman.

Other veterans of the World Championship campaign, where England recorded a best-ever third place finish, are Newcastle Falcons full-back Alex Tait - the brother of England centre Mathew - Leeds Tykes fly-half Adam Greendale, Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Richard Bolt, and Saracens forwards Ben Thomas and Andy Saull.

Redman will be able to use seven of the 11 players on the bench against Italy as he prepares the squad for this year's IRB World Championship taking place in Belfast in April.

But the former Bath and England lock will be wary of the Italians, who scored some outstanding tries when they were beaten 34-26 by England in Rome last season.

Redman said: "Italy scored more points against us last year than any other team, they are passionate about the scrum and they have the flair and skill levels to cause us problems. We've got to be very careful.

"But this group are training well and they've worked very hard. I hope to see an edge to the way they play individually and collectively, and to see if they can put our attacking framework into practice against good opposition."

England go on to play Wales on March 2 at Aberavon (7.15pm) and France on March 24 at Henley (4pm) before going to the World Championship. In Belfast their opponents in the pool stage are Argentina, Samoa and New Zealand.

England U19s (v Italy at Sunbury, January 5, 2.15pm)

15 Alex Tait (vice-captain, Newcastle Falcons)
14 Noah Cato (Saracens)
13 Tom Bedford (Exeter Chiefs)
12 Gareth Griffiths (Bristol Rugby)
11 David Smith (Northampton Saints)
10 Adam Greendale (Hymers College & Leeds Tykes)
9 Richard Bolt (Exeter Chiefs)
1 Jack Steadman (Bristol Rugby)
2 Joe Williams (Cinderford)
3 Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
4 Greg Gillanders (Leicester Tigers)
5 Ben Thomas (Saracens)
6 Matthew Cox (Worcester)
7 Andy Saull (Saracens)
8 Hugo Ellis (captain, London Wasps)

Replacements

16 Scott Freer (Leeds Tykes)
17 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
18 Billy Moss (Bath Rugby)
19 Scott Hobson (Cornish Pirates)
20 Jon Fisher (Wellington College & London Irish)
21 Garth Dew (Sale Sharks)
22 Johnny Arr (Worcester)
23 Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)
24 David Howells (London Irish)
25 Greg King (Worcester)
26 Alex Goode (Saracens)