WARRIORS’ talented outside-back Ben Howard has been named on the left wing for England’s IRB Junior World Championship opener against host nation France tomorrow.
The game at the Stade Henri Desgrange in La Roche-sur-Yon kicks-off at 5.45pm (GMT) and is live on Sky Sports.
England head coach Nick 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.”
Worcester-born Elliott Stooke, who went to Prince Henry’s High School in Evesham and plays for Gloucester, starts the game in the second row.
England Under 20s: Devoto; Watson (both Bath), Sloane (Harlequins), Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Howard (Worcester Warriors); Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Braley (Bristol); Hepburn (Wasps), Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Stooke (Gloucester), Barrow (Leeds), Sisi (Bath), Hankin (Saracens), Clifford (Harlequins).
Replacements: Morris (Wasps), Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Smallbone (London Irish), Price (Leicester Tigers), Moriarty (Gloucester), Day (Northampton Saints), Purdy (Leicester Tigers), Nowell (Exeter Chiefs).
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