Starts handed to Cunningham-South, Fasogbon for Georgia Test

Chandler Cunningham-South and Afolabi Fasogbon will resume their international duties for England under-20s this Thursday (1^st June) as they complete a two-Test series against Georgia under-20s.

Former Exile Mark Mapletoft got off to a winning start in his first game as Head Coach of the age-grade, securing a 41-36 victory with the aid of Cunningham-South and Fasogbon as replacements, who now start for England this week.

Fasogbon takes up his usual position at tighthead prop with his Senior Academy Clubmate has been entrusted with the number eight shirt in what is England’s final outing in preparation for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

With the 2022/23 campaign drawing to a close, both of Irish’s young forwards have enjoyed breakout seasons involved with the senior set-up.

The front-rower made his Club debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup and also attained his first five under-20 caps, whilst Cunningham-South accrued an impressive haul of 22 first team appearances, along with three tries.

Leicester Tiger Lewis Chessum will captain Mapletoft’s outfit at Avchala Rugby Stadium in Tbilisi, with the match kicking-off at 13:00 BST (16:00 local time) and will be streamed on the Georgian Rugby Facebook page.

Mapletoft said: “Our first match against Georgia was tough; they were physical in their tackles, and some of their tries showed they have as much strike power out wide as they do through the forwards.

“Equally though, I was really pleased with the composure our players showed to stay in the contest and close out the match.

“Our bench had a real impact.

“The players learned a lot from Saturday’s match, which is why we’re on this tour.

“Our attention now turns to game two in what will be our final hit-out ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship and we know we’ll have to put together a more complete performance in two days’ time.”

 

England men’s under-20 team

15 Joe Jenkins (Bristol Bears)

14 Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers)

13 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Sale Sharks) 

12 Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)

11 Alex Wills (Sale Sharks)

10 Connor Slevin (Harlequins)

9 Charlie Bracken (Saracens)

1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)

2 Finn Theobald-Thomas (Gloucester)

3 Afolabi Fasogbon (London Irish)

4 Harvey Cuckson (Bath Rugby)

5 Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers)

6 Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers)

7 Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)

8 Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish)

 

Replacements

16 Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)

17 Ethan Clarke (Harlequins)

18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears)

19 Zach Carr (Harlequins)

20 Nathan Michelow (Saracens)

21 Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)

22 Benjamin Waghorn (Harlequins)

23 Toby Thame (Northampton Saints)

24 Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)