England A return to the international stage this Saturday against the All Blacks XV in a clash that promises valuable insights for the medium-term future of English rugby. Between players already glimpsed at senior level and emerging talents from the 2024 U20 World Championship, Mark Mapletoft is fielding a side in Bath brimming with ambition. While the fixture will not count as a full Test, it offers a rare opportunity for young players to measure themselves against the intensity and demands of top-level rugby. Conceived as a bridge between the U20s and the senior England squad, this match forms part of a broader development strategy that has been carefully implemented over recent months under the guidance of Steve Borthwick.
The squad announced by Mapletoft demonstrates a delicate balance between relative experience and forward-looking potential. Among players born before 2000, several familiar names from the English international scene stand out, providing structure around a youthful core. Ethan Roots, already capped four times and performing strongly for Exeter this season, will captain the side from the back row, confirming his status as a natural leader despite a still-developing international trajectory. Alongside him, Bath centre Max Ojomoh, once again appointed vice-captain, will aim to remind everyone that he remains one of the most elegant and consistent backs in English rugby. Jamie Blamire, with seven caps to his name, adds further solidity at hooker, as do the versatile Ollie Hassell-Collins and Charlie Atkinson, both of whom have tasted senior-level rugby under Borthwick. These players, seasoned by the daily rigours of the Premiership and exposed to the realities of elite rugby, form the backbone of a squad expected to learn quickly while never losing sight of the standards set by the national setup.
Alongside them, a handful of less conventional profiles complete this cohort of elders, including Joe Batley, recalled after briefly captaining the side before passing the armband to Roots, and who remains closely monitored despite being 29. In contrast, the new wave of talent born after the turn of the century, particularly the 2004-2005 generation crowned U20 World Champions in 2024, brings a striking vitality. Many of this cohort now feature in the squad, reflecting the strength of the English system and the desire to rapidly build on that global success. Prop Afolabi Fasogbon, centre Angus Hall, scrum-half Archie McParland, and the powerful prop Vilikesa “Billy” Sela represent the freshness of this group, whose ascent to the elite is accelerating. Between these two generations are players such as Tom Lockett, Ben Bamber, Greg Fisilau, and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, all of whom featured with the U20s between 2021 and 2023 and are now well established with their respective clubs.
Amid this unique surge of youth, two names attract particular attention: Max Ojomoh and Noah Caluori, both of whom trained with the senior squad ahead of the autumn Tests before being redirected to England A for this fixture’s specific preparation. Their selection, far from a demotion, reflects the very high regard in which they are held by the coaching staff and the importance of their game time in an international environment. Caluori, a 19-year-old, rangy winger, made a sensational impact in the Premiership with a five-try haul on his first start for Saracens and is already establishing himself as a rare aerial talent. Steve Borthwick has described him as an “exciting talent,” while Owen Farrell marvelled at his ability to reclaim high balls, a precious asset at this level. Ojomoh, meanwhile, is no longer a novice; his game intelligence and versatility give him a central role in the attacking structure, as he remains a key figure at Bath, who dominated domestically last season and won the Challenge Cup against LOU. Together, they symbolise the bridge between squads, capable of navigating senior training and starting duties with England A.
England A’s Starting XV to Face New Zealand
At the back, Josh Hodge will take the full-back role, a well-earned reward for a player whose kicking reliability and ball-carrying ability have often been praised at Exeter. On the wings, the combination of Ollie Hassell-Collins and Noah Caluori looks designed to combine security with pace and cutting power, both of which are key attributes for these players. One has already demonstrated his abilities on the international stage, the other embodies the rawest form of English potential. At centre, the Hall-Ojomoh pairing promises a complementary balance of power and creativity from Hall and the vision and experience of Ojomoh, who will serve not only as a technical link but also an emotional leader at the heart of the team. At half-back, the young Archie McParland will have a rare opportunity to operate at this level alongside Atkinson, who featured for the senior side this summer against the USA, whose tactical awareness and kicking accuracy could prove decisive in a match likely to feature extended periods of All Blacks pressure.
Up front, the pack comprises Iyogun, Blamire, and Fasogbon tasked with laying the platform for set-piece dominance; Fasogbon, at just 21, was one of the standout performers during England U20’s 2024 Six Nations and World Championship triumphs, particularly in securing penalties from scrums. In the second row, Tom Lockett partners the rugged Joe Batley, ensuring stability in the lineout, while in the back row, the combination of Roots, Pearson, and Fisilau forms a coherent unit, blending leadership, defensive work, and ball-carrying ability, allowing England A to compete in an area that will determine much of the match’s momentum. The bench, rich in novices, perfectly illustrates the mindset behind this fixture: providing as many young talents as possible with exposure to the physical and mental demands of facing a structured and ambitious All Blacks XV. Although the game lacks full Test status, it carries major strategic importance for Borthwick and Mapletoft, who are closely monitoring the development of several players who could soon progress to the senior squad. Caluori, in particular, may develop into a crucial aerial weapon at higher levels, while Ojomoh is a natural candidate for midfield rotations and is currently as close as possible to first-team integration. Behind them, the squad hopes to demonstrate that English rugby depth is no mirage but the product of a methodical pathway built on performances at the 2024 U20 World Championship.
England A Squad to Face New Zealand
Starting XV :
15 Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
14 Noah Caluori (Saracens, uncapped)
13 Angus Hall (Saracens, uncapped)
12 Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, 1 cap) (vc)
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
10 Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
1 Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
2 Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
3 Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
4 Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
5 Joe Batley (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
6 Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps) (c)
7 Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
8 Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Replacements :
16 Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
17 Tarek Haffar (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
18 Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
19 Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
20 Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
21 Caolan Englefield (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
22 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
23 Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
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