Quintet get Under-20s call

Picture: Getty Images

By Mark Stevens

Five Exeter Chiefs players have been named in Rob Hunter's 32-man England Under-20s squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Arnott, Sam Hill, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade have all been included for the defending champions, who will kick-off their defence on Devon soil against Scotland on Friday, February 1.

England tackle Scotland at Plymouth Albion's Brickfields ground in their seasonal opener, before then facing Ireland (away), France (home), Italy (home) and Wales (away).

The five players from the Chiefs is the largest contingent from any one club and again underlines the great work which is being put in by Exeter's Academy structure.

Hunter has made two changes to his overall squad with Harlequins centre Harry Sloan and Leicester Tigers wing Henry Purdy both coming into the group, which as well as trying to defend their Six Nations title, will also head to France for the IRB Junior World Championship in June.

Hunter said: “We’ve made a couple of changes to the squad and brought in two guys who have been performing consistently well at their club. Both Harry and Henry are talented players and we’re excited to see what they can bring.

“Our focus at the moment is solely on our own preparation and that first Six Nations game against Scotland in Plymouth. They’ve had a warm-up game and they’ll be coming at us from the first whistle, but we’ve trained well and we’re looking forward to getting out there on February 1.”

England Under-20s squad

Forwards

Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)

Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)

Max Crumpton (Saracens)

Matt Hankin (Saracens)

Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)

Tom Jubb (Saracens)

Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)

Nathan Morris (London Wasps)

Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)

Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

David Sisi (London Irish)

Scott Spurling (Saracens)

Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)

Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)

Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs

Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)

Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)

Tom Collins (Northampton Saints)

Alex Day (Northampton Saints)

Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)

Nathan Fowles (Sale Sharks)

Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)

Will Hooley (Northampton Saints)

Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)

Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)

Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)

Harry Sloan (Harlequins)

Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)

Anthony Watson (London Irish)

England Under-20 Six Nations fixtures

Game: England v Scotland, live on Sky Sports HD

Date: Friday, February 1

Venue: Plymouth Albion RFC

Kick-off: 17:45

Game: Ireland v England

Date: Friday, February 8

Venue: Dubarry Park, Athlone

Kick-off: 18:35

Game: England v France, live on RFU.com

Date: Saturday, February 23

Venue: Sixways, Worcester

Kick-off: 15:00

Game: England v Italy, live Sky Sports HD

Date: Friday, March 8

Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton

Kick-off: 20:05

Game: Wales v England

Date: Friday, March 15

Venue: Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay

Kick-off: 19:30