Chiefs Named in England U20 Team for Fifth-Place Play-Off

Six Chiefs have been named in the England U20 side for their last game of the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship.

Head coach Mark Mapletoft and assistant coach Andy Titterrell have confirmed their England squad to face Wales on Matchday 4.

The fifth-place play-off takes place at Rugby Viadana’s Stadio Luigi Zaffanella on Monday (14th, 14:30 BST kick-off).

Sale Sharks lock Tom Burrow captains the side in Lombardy with first starts awarded to club mate Seb Kelly and Ollie Streeter of Harlequins.

Exeter Chiefs’ Campbell Ridl shifts out to the left wing with Jack Bracken (Saracens), Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs) and Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby) reinstated into Mapletoft’s back line.

Kelly and Streeter’s inclusion is one of four alterations to the forward pack with skipper Burrow and back-row forward Sam Williams (Leicester Tigers) named in the starting XV.

Racing 92 forward Junior Kpoku has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Rugby U20 Championship due to an elbow injury sustained in England’s Matchday 3 encounter with Australia. Reggie Hammick (Saracens) has been called into Mark Mapletoft’s squad in Verona as injury cover.

Andy Titterrell said: “Wales are a team we’ve faced twice already this year but as with every match, we approach it with a clean slate and the utmost determination.

“The attitude from our players in training has been relentless and working within our framework, we want them to be daring and brave on the pitch.

“Despite the rollercoaster of emotions in recent days, we as a brotherhood still have our own story to write in this competition.”

England U20

15 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 15 caps)

14 Jack Bracken (Saracens, Barnet Elizabethans, 11 caps)

13 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge RFC, 6 caps)

12 Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby, Longlevens RFC, 2 caps)

11 Campbell Ridl (Exeter Chiefs, Sharks, 5 caps)

10 Ben Coen (Exeter Chiefs, Teignmouth RFC, 12 caps)

9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, 8 caps)

1 Ralph McEachran (Sale Sharks, Guildford RFC, 8 caps)

2 Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, Cwmbran RFC, 8 caps)

3 Ollie Streeter (Harlequins, Haywards Heath RFC, 1 cap)

4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 17 caps)

5 Tom Burrow (c) (Sale Sharks, Morley RUFC, 8 caps)

6 Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks, Rochdale RFC, 1 cap)

7 Sam Williams (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham Corsairs RFC, 2 caps)

8 Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, New Milton Rugby Club, 5 caps)

Replacements

16 Louie Gulley (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, 6 caps)

17 Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, Old Northamptonians RFC, 7 caps)

18 Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 13 caps)

19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, Bedford Junior Blues, 7 caps)

20 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St. Peter’s RFC, 17 caps)

21 Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints, Royston Rugby Club, 4 caps)

22 Nic Allison (Exeter Chiefs, Bishops Diocesan College, 6 caps)

23 Noah Caluori (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby, 2 caps)