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England U20 have named six Northampton Saints players in their matchday squad for the World Rugby Junior World Championship clash with Argentina.

Loosehead prop Oliver Scola retains his starting role from the side that defeated USA last time out, as he moves to 16 caps at this age grade – a number matched by clubmate Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, who packs down in the second row on Tuesday (kick-off: 12.30pm BST).

Fellow Saints youngsters James Pater and Hugh Shields are selected at at fullback and fly-half respectively, while prop Sonny Tonga’uiha and scrum-half Jonny Weimann await their chance to impress at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi from amongst the replacements. 

Alex Coles, Tommy Freeman and Fin Smith all start for England in their Nations Championship opener, with Alex Mitchell and Henry Pollock also named amongst the matchday 23 set to face South Africa.

The quintet of Saints will take to Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday (4 July, kick-off: 4.40pm UK time).

Hugh Shields is set to make his England U20 debut in matchday one of the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship against Ireland this weekend.

The fly-half is one of five Northampton Saints players in the squad for the match taking place at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, this Saturday 27 June, 12:30pm kick-off. The Pool C clash will be available to watch live on RugbyPass TV and Premier Sports.  

Joining Shields in the starting side is Aiden Ainsworth-Cave who packs down in the second row, and James Pater is picked at fullback on the occasion of his sixth U20 cap.

There’s two further Saints players on the bench as Sonny Tonga’uiha and Jack Lewis await their chance to impress.

Aidan Ainsworth-Cave, Jack Lewis, Oliver Scola, Sonny Tonga’uiha, James Pater, Hugh Shields, and Jonny Weimann are all in line to represent England Under-20s in Georgia this summer.

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Head coach Andy Titterrell’s side open their Junior World Championship schedule against Ireland on Saturday 27th June (12:30 BST kick-off) at Avchala Stadium. All England fixtures will be broadcast live on RugbyPass TV in the UK.

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Ainsworth-Cave, Scola, and Weimann return for their second Junior World Championship campaign, while Lewis and Shields are two of five uncapped players named in the squad.