Jonny Weimann starts, while Ollie Scola, Aiden Ainsworth-Cave and Archie McParland have been named in the matchday 23 as England begin their World Rugby U20 Championship title-defence against Scotland this Sunday.
For scrum-half and Academy graduate Weimann, the selection follows an impressive maiden season in senior rugby, where he made nine appearances in Black, Green and Gold, including a Gallagher Premiership debut in March.
Fellow nine McParland’s inclusion is also a welcome sight for Saints supporters, with the 20-year-old marking his return from a shoulder injury sustained in the U20 Six Nations. That was a tournament in which forwards Scola and Ainsworth-Cave each made their England Under-20 debuts.
Mark Mapletoft’s side brought home the world title in 2024 by defeating France 21-13 in the Final, with the likes of Craig Wright and Henry Pollock among the Saints to feature in the Cape Town triumph.
Mapletoft said: “Scotland present a very strong threat as the opening act of our tournament; our pool is a challenging one and our disciplined approach will be required from minute one in the Verona heat.
“Preparations in Georgia and Italy have been demanding but our staff have been excellent in best preparing the squad for this week and beyond.
“Our team want to create their own story this summer and are determined to make lifelong memories, starting this Sunday.”
All of England's 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship fixtures will be streamed live on RugbyPass TV.
England U20 side v Scotland U20
Payanini Center, Verona
Sunday 29 June, 2025
Kick-off: 2.30pm BST
15 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 12 caps)
14 Jack Bracken (Saracens, Barnet Elizabethans, 8 caps)
13 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge RFC, 4 caps)
12 Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby, Longlevens RFC, uncapped)
11 Tyler Offiah (Bath Rugby, Ealing Trailfinders, 1 cap)
10 Ben Coen (Exeter Chiefs, Teignmouth RFC, 9 caps)
9 Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints, Royston Rugby Club, 1 cap)
1 Ralph McEachran (Sale Sharks, Guildford RFC, 5 caps)
2 Louie Gulley (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, 5 caps)
3 Tye Raymont (Sale Sharks, West Park Leeds RFC, 5 caps)
4 Tom Burrow (c) (Sale Sharks, Morley RUFC, 5 caps)
5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 13 caps)
6 George Timmins (Bath Rugby, Market Harborough RUFC, 5 caps)
7 Samuel Williams (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham Corsairs RFC, uncapped)
8 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St. Peter’s RFC, 14 caps)
Replacements
16 Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, Cwmbran RFC, 5 caps)
17 Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, Old Northamptonians RFC, 4 caps)
18 Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 10 caps)
19 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 14 caps)
20 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, Bedford Junior Blues, 4 caps)
21 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, 5 caps)
22 Campbell Ridl (Exeter Chiefs, Sharks, 2 caps)
23 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, West Park Leeds RFC, 8 caps)
England’s 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship fixtures
England vs. Scotland - Sunday 29th June, 14:30 BST - Payanini Centre, Verona
England vs. South Africa - Friday 4th July, 17:00 BST - Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
England vs. Australia - Wednesday 9th July, 17:00 BST - Payanini Centre, Verona
Placing/semi-final fixtures - Monday 14th July (KO TBC) - Payanini Centre, Verona and Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
Play-off/final fixtures - Saturday 19th July (KO TBC) - Stadio San Michele, Calvisano and Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
