Wasps Academy fly-half Charlie Atkinson has been named in the England U20 32-man Elite Player Squad (EPS) for 2021.
Atkinson has impressed in the Wasps first-team recently, making four appearances so far this season.
That run of games has included making his Heineken Champions Cup debut against Dragons and going on to score a try and conversion against Montpellier a week later. Most recently he scored his first Gallagher Premiership try against Sale Sharks.
The player pathway programme is a vital development tool for future full international rugby. Of the 31 players selected in England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad, 81% played for England U20s, 77% for England U18s, while 87% came through a club academy.
Former Wasps coach Andy Titterrell has also joined the England U20s set up as forwards coach, following his time with the Black and Golds from 2014 after his playing retirement, till 2020.
Titterrell was previously forwards coach for England Saxons on their successful tour of South Africa in 2016.
Titterrell’s playing career reached its peak with a call-up for the 2005 British & Irish Lions. In addition to being part of Sale’s 2006 Premiership title win, the former hooker’s club career took in stints with Gloucester Rugby, Leeds Carnegie and Edinburgh Rugby, while he was capped five times by England.
England men U20s Elite Player Squad – 2021
Forwards
Ben Bamber (Bristol Bears)
Harvey Beaton (Saracens)
Phil Brantingham (Newcastle Falcons)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby)
Luke Green (London Irish)
Alex Groves (Bristol Bears)
Lewis Holsey (Worcester Warriors)
Ethan Hunt (Gloucester Rugby)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby)
Marcus Rhodes (London Irish)
Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby)
Sam Riley (Harlequins)
Ethan Staddon (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby)
Backs
Charlie Atkinson (Wasps)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester Warriors)
Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby)
Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Dan Lancaster (Leeds Tykes)
Tommy Mathews (Northampton Saints)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Fin Smith (Worcester Warriors)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)