Brooke in starting lineup for final U20 Summer Series fixture

Lucas Brooke is set for a first start of the Under 20 Six Nations Summer Series for England under-20s when they take on Italy under-20s in the final cross-pool match of the tournament.

Alan Dickens named his 26-man squad to face the Azzurri on away soil at the Stadio Monigo, Treviso, which features Chandler Cunningham-South, Alexander Harmes and Mikey Summerfield amongst the replacements.

The tie, which kicks-off at 5pm BST tomorrow (Tuesday 12 July), is the penultimate fixture of the concluding day of the one-off tournament that took place due to the postponed World Rugby Under 20 Championship.

A mainstay of Dickens’ side, Brooke moves into the first XV as one of four changes and will look to earn his novel start in the tournament this summer.

Should Brooke start, it will be his first for the Red Roses since the 2021 Under 20 Six Nations, looking to pick up his eighth cap at under-20 level.    

Northampton Saint George Hendy moves from full-back to left wing in place of Alexander Harmes, who bagged a try-scoring debut for England under-20s in their narrow 37-36 loss to Ireland under-20s.

England picked up try and losing bonus points from the aforementioned loss and were aided by Mikey Summerfield’s first score for his country, meaning the union finished second in Pool A of the competition.

England under-20s now prepare to take on their corresponding second-placed side in Italy under-20s, with every clash on the final day of Under 20 Summer Series action being streamed via the Six Nations Rugby U20 YouTube channel. 

England men’s under-20 head coach, Alan Dickens, speaking ahead of the play-off said: “Although we were disappointed to concede four tries in the first half against Ireland, I thought we did well to score six of our own and get the bonus point.

“Italy had a really good pool stage, and we know they will give us a strong test, but we’ll be looking to finish the Summer Series on a real high.”    

 

England U20 team v Italy 

15 Sam Harris, Bath Rugby, Caps 2

14 Iwan Stephens, Newcastle Falcons, Caps 4

13 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, Wasps, Caps 4 

12 Ethan Grayson, Northampton Saints, Caps 8 

11 George Hendy, Northampton Saints, Caps 6

10 Fin Smith, Worcester Warriors, Caps 8

9 Tom Carr-Smith, Bath Rugby, Caps 6

1 Tumy Onasanya, Sale Sharks, Caps 3

2 Ollie Fletcher, Newcastle Falcons, Caps 4

3 Jevaughn Warren, Saracens, Caps 3

4 Charlie Rice, Bristol Bears, Caps 5

5 Lewis Chessum, Leicester Tigers, Caps 6

6 Emeka Ilione, Leicester Tigers, Caps 9, Captain

7 Lucas Brooke, London Irish, Caps 7

8 Toby Knight, Saracens, Caps 8 

 

Replacements

16 John Stewart, Bath Rugby, Caps 8

17 Andrew Turner, Bristol Bears, Caps 2

18 Mikey Summerfield, London Irish, Caps 8

19 Ewan Richards, Bath Rugby, Caps 10

20 Tom Lockett, Northampton Saints, Caps 6

21 Greg Fisilau, Wasps, Caps 4

22 Ethan Staddon, Bath Rugby, Caps 3

23 Chandler Cunningham-South, London Irish, Caps 6

24 Charlie Bracken, Saracens, Caps 3

25 Tom Litchfield, Northampton Saints, Caps 8

26 Alex Harmes, London Irish, Caps 1

 

England’s Pool A fixtures and results

Round 1 – England v South Africa, Friday 24 June, KO 4pm (BST), Payanini Centre, Verona - 22-30

Round 2 – France v England, Wednesday 29 June, KO 4pm (BST), Payanini Centre, Verona - 20-29

Round 3 – Ireland v England, Tuesday 5 July, KO 7pm (BST), Payanini Centre, Verona – 37-36