WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
ENGLAND U20s CLASS OF 2016 SPECIAL REPORT BY BEN JAYCOCK
ENGLAND had to wait eight years since their last U20s World Championship triumph when Martin Haag’s Class of 2016 beat Ireland 45-21 in Manchester.
Joe Marchant danced through to score, before tries from Callum Chick and Huw Taylor in the first half.
Harry Mallinder scored twice under the posts and Marchant got a second to secure England’s third title in four years, with Ireland’s points coming from Adam McBurney and Shane Daly.
England defeated Italy, Scotland and Australia in the pool stages and South Africa in the semi-finals en route to the final.
However, that was the end of England’s purple patch in the tournament until Mark Mapletoft’s men reinstated the Red Rose’s place at the top of agegrade rugby last week.
15. Max Malins The 27-year-old is one of the few success stories from the group at Test level.
Malins rose through the Saracens academy and spent eight years in north London from 2015-2023, where he finished his time with a Premiership winner’s medal after scoring a try in the final against Sale following a season’s loan at Bristol when Saracens were relegated. Now back with the Bears, he has won 22 England caps and scored two tries. While he appears out of contention in Steve Borthwick’s current squad and missed out on the World Cup, Malins is a contender to rejoin the fray.
14. Sam Aspland-Robinson
A try-scorer in the semi-final win over
South Africa, Aspland-Robinson joined Leicester Tigers from Harlequins in 2018 and played 14 times before being released in July 2022. He spent time out on loan but now co-owns a gym with former Leicester teammate Ellis Genge.
13. Joe Marchant Like Malins, Marchant has also gone on to represent England at the highest level.
He made over 130 appearances for Harlequins and was an integral part of the 2020/21 Premiership-winning side. The 26-Test cap international last featured for England during the 2023 World Cup but after the tournament, he made himself ineligible by joining Top 14 club Stade Francais.
12. Johnny Williams
Williams racked up over 50 appearances for London Irish before signing a deal to join Newcastle Falcons, following the Exiles’ relegation in
2018. However, in 2019 Williams revealed that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and would take time away from the game to undergo treatment. A whirlwind 2020 saw him return to professional rugby in January, earn a call-up to the Wales squad in June, sign a deal with Scarlets in July and make his Test debut against Georgia in November. The five-Test
Welsh international was named in Wales’ initial training squad for the World Cup.
11. Matt Gallagher Son of 1987 World Cup-winning All Black John Gallagher, Matt started his career at Saracens and played over 40 times for the Premiership outfit. He departed the club in 2020, signing for Munster, but injuries limited his involvement with the side, playing just 13 times for the Irish province. He returned to the Premiership in 2022, signing for Bath. Gallagher has signed for Benetton ahead of the 2024/25 season and was first named in the Italy squad this year, qualifying for Azzurri through his mother.
10. Harry Mallinder (c)
The captain of this side enjoyed a stellar campaign and was nominated for the U20 World Player of the Year award, won by Ireland’s Max Deegan. The son of former Sale Sharks and England full-back Jim, Harry quickly became a regular in the Northampton squad. His ability to play fly-half, inside centre and full-back saw him represent the Saints more than 80 times. In July 2021, Mallinder left Northampton to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan, signing with the Black Rams Tokyo. However, he failed to make an appearance in Japan and joined the NFL International Player Pathway as a kicker/ punter.
9. Max Green A product of the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy, the scrum-half joined
Bath in 2017. During his time with the club, he went on loan to Jersey Reds and had stints at Bristol. He departed the Premiership side at the end of the 2022/23 season joining Harlequins who he played for until the end of last season.
1. Lewis Boyce The prop played over 50 times for Bath before departing the club for Championship side Ealing Trailfinders in April of 2023, where he was crowned a champion of the second tier last term. It remains to be seen whether Boyce will re-enter the top flight again with Ealing’s promotion blocked due to failing to meet the Premiership’s minimum standards criteria.
2. Jack Singleton
Another player who has gone on to represent his country at the highest level, winning four England caps, with the last in 2022. Singelton left Worcester
Warriors after 65 appearances in
2019, signing for Saracens. He played just 15 times before Saracens were relegated for salary cap breaches, prompting a move to Gloucester, where he has stayed since 2020. During the 2023/24 season, he enjoyed a stint with Top 14 club Toulon but has now returned.