Five Saints players picked by England Under-20s for Italy encounter
Five Saints players have been selected by England Under-20s for their clash with Italy in the Under-20 Men’s Six Nations Championship on Friday night (kick-off 7.15pm).
England travel to Stadio Comunale di Monigo for the round four fixture this weekend.
A trio of Saints players will be in the Red Rose starting line-up, with James Pater picked at full-back, Oliver Scola at loosehead and Aiden Ainsworth-Cave in the second row.
Tighthead prop Sonny Tonga’uiha is named amongst the replacements, while scrum-half Jonny Weimann returns from injury to be named in his first Six Nations matchday squad of this season’s tournament.
That means Saints are set to be without those five youngsters for their PREM Rugby Cup semi-final at Exeter Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.
England Under-20s assistant coach Gareth Harris said: “After disappointment in Bath (a 31-21 loss to Ireland), the team have attacked this week with clarity and a clear focus on wanting to make a positive impact for the remainder of the tournament.
“As coaches, we have seen players’ commitment to their roles and have set the high standards we expect approaching a tough away test.
“We trust our squad will bring that relentlessness in their work and genuine enjoyment to give themselves every chance to succeed in Treviso.”
England U20 men’s team to face Italy: 15 James Pater (Saints, Shelford RFC, 3 caps); 14 Noah Caluori (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby, 5 caps), 13 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge RFC, 11 caps), 12 Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby, Longlevens RFC, 7 caps), 11 Tyler Offiah (Bath Rugby, Ealing Trailfinders, 5 caps); 10 Finn Keylock (Saracens, Marlow RUFC, 2 caps), 9 Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Bromley RFC, 11 caps); 1 Oliver Scola (Saints, Old Northamptonians RFC, 12 caps), 2 Jimmy Staples (Harlequins, Worthing Rugby Club, 3 caps), 3 Ollie Streeter (Harlequins, Haywards Heath RFC, 4 caps); 4 Elliot Williams (Harlequins, 3 caps), 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Saints, Bedford Junior Blues, 12 caps); 6 Tate Williams (Harlequins, East Grinstead RFC, 1 cap), 7 Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks, Rochdale RUFC, 5 caps), 8 Connor Treacey (C) (Bath Rugby, New Milton Rugby Club, 10 caps).
Replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins, Twickenham RFC, 1 cap), 17 Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks, Harrogate RUFC, 2 caps), 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha (Saints, Old Northamptonians RFC, 3 caps), 19 Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Gloucester Rugby, Lydney RFC, 1 cap), 20 George Marsh (Leicester Tigers, Holt RFC, 3 caps), 21 Jonny Weimann (Saints, Royston Rugby Club, 6 caps), 22 Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Bank of England RFC, 3 caps), 23 George Pearson (Leicester Tigers, Buckingham RFC, 6 caps).