England U20 now know their schedule for the 2027 U20 6 Nations, with the fixtures announced this week. Having been beaten by France on the final day of the 2026 tournament, England will face the defending champions in the second round at Leicester. Andy Titterrell’s side will play three home fixtures, with matches scheduled to take place in Leicester, York and Bath.
Three home fixtures, including a showdown with the defending champions
England will begin their campaign away from home on Friday 5 February 2027, against Ireland in Cork. That opening trip will be followed by one of the standout fixtures in their schedule: the visit of France to Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Leicester on Friday 12 February, with kick-off at 8pm. France, winners of the last two editions, completed the Grand Slam in 2026 with a 31-28 victory over England on the final day. The meeting could prove to be an early title decider for Andy Titterrell’s side, although recent tournaments have shown that head-to-head clashes between title contenders do not always determine the eventual outcome of the competition.
A week later, England will return to home soil at the LNER Community Stadium in York to face Italy on Friday 19 February, with kick-off at 7.15pm. Their final home fixture will take place on Friday 12 March in Bath, where Scotland will provide the opposition at 7.45pm. The Recreation Ground, which has already become a familiar venue for England’s young internationals, will therefore bring the side’s home campaign to a close.
Between those three fixtures, England will travel to Cardiff to take on Wales on Friday 5 March at 7.45pm. The tournament will be played over five rounds, concluding on 12 March, alongside the senior Six Nations Championship.
James Pater, a player to watch ahead of selection
Although the squad that will compete in the tournament has yet to be confirmed, several players who have already represented England at U20 level could be in contention for another campaign. The coaching staff have a 50-player extended squad for the 2026-27 season, announced in September, which provides the foundation for preparations ahead of upcoming international fixtures. Sixteen previously capped players feature on the list, including James Pater, Will Knight, George Marsh and Oliver Spencer.
James Pater, the Northampton Saints full-back who featured in all five matches of the 2026 tournament, has made an excellent start to the season with his club. At 19, he made an immediate impression by scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle Red Bulls in the opening round of the league campaign on 25 September. He then added another try against Bath on 10 October, further underlining his attacking threat.
Beyond the tries themselves, the fact that he has started two of his side’s first three league matches is significant, particularly given that he is playing for a club that has won two of the last three Premiership titles. It reflects the level of trust already placed in him at the highest level of the domestic game.
Barring an unexpected development, his inclusion in England’s squad for the next U20 Six Nations therefore appears a natural prospect. The main scenario that could alter that outlook would be a call-up to the senior England side by Steve Borthwick, although such a move would still appear premature given Pater’s limited experience at the highest level. Furthermore, places within the senior set-up are heavily shaped by the players included in the Enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS), making an immediate promotion all the more difficult to envisage.
England will also be able to draw on several players with previous experience at U20 level while bringing in new talent from the U18 ranks. Charlie Bray, Declan Treacey — Connor Treacey’s brother, with Connor having captained England U20 during the 2026 tournament — and Henry Laidlow are among those included in the extended squad.
