England Under-20s head coach Alan Dickens has named four Northampton Saints in his side to face Oxford University on Saturday (15 January, kick-off: 2pm).
Forwards Tom Lockett and Geordie Irvine will start the fixture at lock and No.8 respectively for their first experiences of international U20s rugby, with centre Ethan Grayson and fullback George Hendy also beginning the game at the Oxford University Sports Ground.
A second XV will take over for the U20s in the second half; and Irvine is one of just two players to retain their place for the second 40 minutes, shifting to flanker after the break while Dickens changes the rest of his side.
Commenting ahead of the game, Dickens said: “We’ve had two camps, this week and last, which helped bring the group together and kick start our Six Nations preparation. The training has gone really well and the commitment from the players has been fantastic.
“The game against Oxford University will be an excellent opportunity for us to put into practice all our work in training and assess how well the lads are working as a group. It’s a great way for us to prepare for our opening game in the Six Nations away to Scotland.”
ENGLAND U20s vs OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Saturday 15 January, 2022
Oxford University Sports Ground
Kick-off: 2pm
First Half
15. George Hendy
14. Deago Bailey
13. Jacob Cusick
12. Ethan Grayson
11. Cassius Cleaves
10. Louie Johnson
9. Tom Carr-Smith
1. Fin Baxter (c)
2. Jasper Spandler
3. Mikey Summerfield
4. Tom Lockett
5. Alex Wardell
6. Macenzzie Duncan
7. Kofi Cripps
8. Geordie Irvine
Second Half
15. Henry Arundell
14. Francis Moore
13. Seb Atkinson (c)
12. Bryn Bradley
11. Ollie Dawkins
10. Jamie Benson
9. Matty Jones
1. Mark Dormer
2. Tom Cotton
3. Will Hobson / Robin Hardwick
4. Alfie Bell
5. Charlie Rice
6. Geordie Irvine / Macenzzie Duncan
7. Kofi Cripps
8. Greg Fisilau
Tickets for the clash at Oxford University Sports Ground are available HERE.
England U20s 2022 Six Nations fixtures
Friday 4 February: Scotland v England (kick-off: 8pm), DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
Friday 11 February: Italy v England (kick-off: 7pm), Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Friday 25 February: England v Wales (kick-off: 7pm), Castle Park, Doncaster
Saturday 12 March: England v Ireland (kick-off: 7.15pm), StoneX Stadium, London
Sunday 20 March: France v England (kick-off: 8pm) Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan
