2:34pm Wednesday 1st September 2010
By Tom Guest
WARRIORS young guns Matt Kvesic and Andy Short have both won call-ups to the England under 20 elite player squad (EPS) for the 2010-11 season.
The Sixways academy prospects have been named in the 32-man group after impressing for the Red Rose nation at under 18 level.
Back-row forward Kvesic and centre Short are highly-regarded within the Worcester set-up and will now compete for places in the under 20s starting XV for the RBS 6 Nations in the new year, before heading for the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy next June.
Head coach Rob Hunter said: "It’s a very talented group, competition for places has been very high and there are some good players who missed out on a place in the 32 who will continue to push for inclusion. Within the squad there’s a great blend of skill, pace and power and we can’t wait to see them wearing the England jersey.
"It’s an exciting time to be involved with a new management team and a new squad coming together. The England Under 18 team has set a standard of playing at pace in recent years and we are looking forward to building on that and the excellent work being done in the regional academies.
"The England age group programmes are a key part of developing future international players and the progress made by the likes of Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs into the England senior team last season is testimony to that."
England under 20 EPS, forwards: Bower (Leicester), Britton (Gloucester), Buchanan (Harlequins)*, Collier (Harlequins), Everard (Leicester), Gray (Newcastle)*, Harris (Leicester), Jones (Wasps), Kvesic (Worcester), Lockley (Exeter), Low (London Irish), Matthews (Harlequins)*, Stedman (Leeds), Thomas (Sale), Twomey (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Wasps), M Vunipola (Bristol)* Backs: Cook (Bath), Daly (Wasps), Farrell (Saracens), Ford (Leicester), Joseph (London Irish)*, Mills (Gloucester), Ransom (Saracens), Robson (Gloucester), Sharp (Saracens)*, Short (Worcester), Tuilagi (Leicester), Wade (Wasps)*, Wallace (Wasps)*, Watson (London Irish)*, Yarde (London Irish) * Capped by England at under 20 level last season.
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