Quartet in England Under-20s squad

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs have four players in the England Under-20s squad to face France in the opening game of this year's Junior World Championships in France.

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill and Henry Slade all start tomorrow night's clash against the host nation at the Stade Henri Desgrange in La Roche-sur-Yon, whilst Jack Nowell has been named on the bench.

Cowan-Dickie, Hill and Slade were all part of the England squad that finished seventh in the same tournament in South Africa last year as did Alec Hepburn, Nathan Morris (both London Wasps), Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie), David Sisi (Bath) and captain Jack Clifford (Harlequins).

With former head coach Rob Hunter having now joined the Chiefs on a full-time basis, Nick Walshe steps up to oversee the Red Rose country during the tournament, which will also see England face South Africa (June 9) and USA (June 13)

Walshe said: "It’s a massive challenge playing against France, particularly in France, but it’s a challenge that we’re relishing. We obviously played them in the Six Nations and put in a good performance, but this is a different game – we won’t be complacent, we’ll be treating them with the respect they deserve.

"The lads have trained well for the first couple of days - they’re looking good, but to be honest they just want to get out there and play.”

England Under-20 starting XV to play France

15 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
13 Harry Sloane (Harlequins)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)

1 Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
3 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 David Sisi (Bath Rugby)
7 Matt Hankin (Saracens)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins, capt)

Replacements:

16 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
18 Tom Smallbone (London Irish)
19 Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
20 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
21 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
22 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

IRB Junior World Championship schedule
All games live on Sky Sports HD

Game 1 England v France
Wednesday, June 5, 17:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon

Game 2 England v South Africa
Sunday, June 9, 15:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon

Game 3 England v USA
Thursday, June 13, 17:45 (GMT)
Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon

Semi-final Tuesday, June 18

Final Sunday, June 23