Three points clear of France at the top of the table, Mark Mapletoft’s squad are on the cusp of age-grade Grand Slam glory for the first time since 2021.
An immediate upside, though, to the three-game suspension given to the 124kg, 204cm giant following his January 30 tackling misdemeanour away to Ireland in Cork was a sudden invite from Steve Borthwick to attend first-team training.
Racing 92 flanker Junior Kpoku has been restored to the England U20 starting line-up for their U20 Six Nations encounter with Scotland in Newcastle on Friday.
England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft has backed his ‘closer’ Lucas Friday to make an impact from the off as he makes his first start at this level against France on Friday.
England U20 head coach Mark Mapletoft has made two changes to his side for the second-round meeting with France in Bath on Friday.
England U20 flanker Junior Kpoku will miss Friday night’s encounter with France in Bath having been banned for three matches.
Northampton Saints flanker Henry Pollock is set to start for England U20 on Thursday against Ireland U20 at Cork's Virgin Media Park in the first match of their U20 Six Nations title defence.
England flew out of South Africa last Saturday evening to Heathrow as the rightful champions, the consistency of their potent scrum and manipulative defence helping them to a deserved first title since 2016.
Mark Mapletoft's young bucks have tasted glory but is there now a clear pathway to Steve Borthwick's senior team?
England U20 pair Jack Bracken and Junior K'poku have been named the top two U18 prospects in the world in 2024 schoolboy rugby.