Bath Rugby's Academy trio Nahum Merigan, Gabe Hamer-Webb and Max Ojomoh have all been selected in a 32-man squad for the U20 Six Nations Championship which begins next month, with England facing France on 1st February.
The squad includes eight players already capped at U20s level, with Alfie Barbeary, Richard Capstick, Rusiate Tuima, Sam Maunder, Manu Vunipola, Ollie Sleightholme, Connor Doherty and Josh Hodge returning for a second year.
Of the 32 players, only three have not played for England, with Sam Crean (Saracens), Noah Heward (Worcester Warriors) and Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Bath Rugby), who are yet to represent their country at age-grade level.
The squad will compete in the U20 Six Nations Championship which begins next month, as well as in this summer’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.
England U20s are led by Dickens and his side will open their Six Nations campaign against France in Grenoble, on Saturday 1 February (KO 20:00 GMT).
The squad will convene at Bisham Abbey national sports centre on Sunday 5 January as they continue their preparations for that first Six Nations fixture.
Perofrmance Director Andy Rock, said: "The announcement of Nahum, Max and Gabe being selected in the U20s EPS this season is great news for them, and for everyone here at the Club. We’ve seen these young men develop over the course of the past five-plus years, and they’ve all made considerable strides in the past six months since arriving into our full-time programme.
"It is fantastic recognition for them and indeed for everyone in the pathway here locally. Everyone in the Academy here will of course be proud, as will their clubs and schools.
"We’ve seen them all pull on the Blue. Black and White shirt this season with pride, and perform when they’ve had their chances, when this time last year they were all schoolboys here in the City of Bath at Beechen Cliff School (Merigan and Hamer-Webb), and King Edwards School (Ojomoh).
"The opportunity to go away and to develop in a different environment and to experience international competition at this level is going to be invaluable for each and every one of them. Especially as U19 players, this selection sets the scene for them to really go after a positive second half of the season and to continue to build themselves as young professionals.
"We are really excited about continuing to support them in their development and to hopefully see them compete in the upcoming Six Nations. We see great opportunity for them to build their careers with us here at Bath into the future and we will welcome them back to the club, we have no doubt, as better players following their time with England."
Forwards
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps Rugby)
Harvey Beaton (Saracens)
Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby)
Sam Crean (Saracens)
Theodore Dan (Saracens)
Ben Donnell (London Irish)
Rob Farrar (Newcastle Falcons)
Josh Gray (Gloucester Rugby)
Luke Green (London Irish)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby)
Hugh Tizard (Harlequins)
JJ Tonks (Northampton Saints)
Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
James Whitcombe (Leicester Tigers)
Backs
George Barton (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
Tom Curtis (Sale Sharks)
Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks)
Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Bath Rugby)
Will Haydon-Wood (Newcastle Falcons)
Noah Heward (Worcester Warriors)
Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
Raphael Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Vunipola (Saracens)
