England U20 Males’s head coach Mark Mapletoft will lead the England Males A squad in opposition to Australia A this autumn because the staff’s head coach.
The England A aspect return to face Australia A on the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday seventeenth November (14:00 GMT kick-off), with tickets obtainable right here.
In what’s the first of two scheduled fixtures for the staff this season, Eire A await England at Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday twenty third February (13:00 GMT kick-off).
After guiding the U20 Males to a ‘double’ Six Nations and World Rugby U20 Championship victory in 2024, Mapletoft has been trusted with the chance to head-up the programme in November because the England Males’s Pathway strengthens its alignment throughout age teams.
Mapletoft’s Taking part in & Teaching Profession
The previous worldwide, who additionally performed for the Males’s A aspect, boasts a distinguished enjoying profession at golf equipment similar to Gloucester Rugby, Harlequins and London Irish, making his transfer into teaching alongside Nigel Redman within the RFU Pathway in his first spell again in 2007.
Mapletoft then spent a decade at Harlequins earlier than returning to England Rugby, firstly as U18 Males assistant coach, after which as U20 Males head coach as of Could 2023.
Mapletoft shall be accompanied by former England and British & Irish Lions worldwide and present U20 Males assistant coach, Andy Titterrell, because the staff’s designated forwards coach.
Moreover, the duo shall be bolstered by the inclusion of pathway scrum coach Nathan Catt and key U20 Males’s Power & Conditioning, Medical and Operational employees for the sport.
Lee Blackett of Bathtub Rugby and Exeter Chiefs’ Haydn Thomas be a part of the teaching ticket as assault and defence coaches, respectively.
Blackett had earlier teaching stints at Rotherham Titans, Wasps and Scarlets earlier than becoming a member of the Somerset aspect in 2023, while Chiefs’ senior coach Thomas performed a vital function within the England U20 Males’s current silverware as defensive coordinator.
The thrilling teaching staff was chosen by the RFU in session with Premiership Rugby, with the number of the match day 23 decided by senior males’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, and RFU Govt Director of Efficiency Rugby, Conor O’Shea.
Transitioning
The England A aspect supplies a platform for gamers transitioning from the Gallagher Premiership and pathway at U20 stage to the senior males’s staff, with the reintroduction of the aspect coming earlier on in 2024 with a 91-5 victory over Portugal after an eight-year absence.
Wider squad data relating to the upcoming fixtures shall be communicated sooner or later.
Upon affirmation of his appointment, Mark Mapletoft commented: “It’s an honour to be requested to tackle this function with England A in November, I’m very proud and likewise grateful to be entrusted with the duty to preside over a really intriguing fixture.
“It’s essential that the coaches and I preserve our work alongside Conor [O’Shea] and Steve [Borthwick] to make sure continued improvement for the perfect younger gamers in our system.
“We need to display that we now have a transparent, linear development for expertise from age-grade to the top of English rugby.
“Simply as with the opposite pathway and senior sides, we demand gamers embrace the chance and adapt to the England Rugby surroundings with new coaches and gamers. We are able to’t wait to get began.”
Conor O’Shea added: “We’re excited to see Mark and Andy proceed their pathway work with this staff, with Lee and Haydn finishing an impressive teaching staff.
Growth Alternative
“The A staff is and at all times shall be an excellent improvement alternative for coaches and gamers alike and there shall be a unique group of coaches in place from the golf equipment for our A sport in February in opposition to Eire when Mark and Andy are with the U20 Males through the Six Nations.
“The upcoming video games provide a platform for rising gamers within the English sport and present a dedication to an formidable, unified and successful England.
“Any fixture between England and Australia is particular and we anticipate this sport at The Stoop in November shall be no completely different, each and on and off the pitch, as we glance to encourage the subsequent era of England Rugby supporters.”
Tickets for England A vs. Australia A on the Twickenham Stoop can be found at Ticketmaster from £25 for adults and £15 (U16)* and might be bought right here.
Tickets for England A’s conflict in opposition to Eire A additionally obtainable by way of this hyperlink. *reserving charges apply
England Males A training employees for Australia A fixture
Mark Mapletoft – Head Coach
Andy Titterrell – Forwards Coach
Nathan Catt – Pathway Scrum Coach
Lee Blackett – Assault Coach
Haydn Thomas – Defence Coach
England Males A 2024/25 fixtures
Sunday seventeenth November 2024 – England A vs. Australia A – Twickenham Stoop, 14:00 GMT kick-off
Sunday twenty third February 2025 – England A vs. Eire A – Ashton Gate, 13:00 GMT kick-off
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