Ten players included in the squad have been capped previously at U20 level or were part of the squad before: Seb Atkinson, Deago Bailey, Finn Baxter, Lucas Brooke, Tom Carr-Smith, Emeka Ilione, Tom Lichfield, Ewan Richards, Fin Smith and John Stewart.

Dickens and full-time forwards coach, Andy Titterrell, have been joined in the England U20s coaching set up by Jordan Turner-Hall as defence coach. Turner-Hall is part of the Harlequins academy coaching set-up and also played for Quins over 150 times in the Premiership. He represented his country from U16 to U20 level and was named in the England squad for the 2012 Six Nations, earning two Test caps during victories over Scotland and Italy.   

“Selection for the squad has been based on a combination of things: the previous regional camps we’ve held, the work we do with the club academies and coaches, plus our knowledge of the players within the pathway," said Dickens. 
 
“The communication and collaboration throughout the pathway are excellent and it’s ensuring we identify talented players and get out to see them play early.
 
“I’d like to thank all the Premiership clubs, the academies, the coaches and Premiership Rugby for their support. It’s been a big team effort.”
 
“It’s great to have Jordan Turner-Hall join the U20s coaching team as part of our attached coaching programme. He is a young and exciting coach who achieved a lot in his playing career.  His current role at Harlequins is all about preparing academy players to transition to the senior squad and that will be hugely valuable to our players who are looking to make the same progression within the England pathway.”  

“The squad and coaching team are looking forward to two four-day camps and a training game against Oxford University in the first half of January, which is all part of our preparation for the Six Nations and our first game against Scotland.”