England U20s have named Rams RFC’s George Makepeace-Cubitt in their squad for Friday’s U20s Six Nations clash with Wales at The Rec. (Photo Credit: Paul Clark)

Head coach Mark Mapletoft has looked to National One to complete his plans for England’s second fixture of the championships after full-back Makepeace-Cubitt moved back to his boyhood club last summer following the demise of London Irish.

The 19-year-old, who will be on the bench on Friday, has played seven times in the third tier this season and he scored a brace of tries in his most recent appearance against Taunton Titans.

Considering Makepeace-Cubitt is solely attached to Rams and not dual-registered, his selection is a testament to him as a player, to Rams as a club and to the quality within National League Rugby.

Including Makepeace-Cubitt, England U20s have selected 14 players who have experienced levels three and four this term.


Gloucester fly-half Rory Taylor has turned out for National One league leaders Chinnor while winger Toby Cousins and hooker Craig Wright (both of Northampton Saints) have represented Leicester Lions.

Also amongst the starters, centre Oli Spencer has been with Darlington Mowden Park this season while his clubmate at Newcastle Falcons, Ben Redshaw, is one of three players in the matchday 23 who has played for Tynedale in National Two North.

Elsewhere, Sale Sharks rising star Asher Opoku-Fordjor has made a couple of appearances for Sale FC and Alex Wills has pulled on the colours of Sedgley Park.

Seven of the eight replacements have played in levels three or four during the 2023-24 campaign with Jacob Oliver (Tynedale), James Halliwell (Dings Crusaders), Joe Bailey and Kane James (Exeter University), Ben Douglas (Tynedale) and Josh Bellamy (Worthing) all gaining valuable minutes in National One and Two.

England U20s v Wales U20s is live on BBC iPlayer on Friday night.

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