England Six Nations Squad 2025

[Geordie]

Kenningham 100% deserves to be in the mix.

Cassius Cleaves might also be on the radar given he's a recent U20 grad.

Ah I forgot about Kenningham actually and I agree hes developed into a very good player. I personally rate him higher than Pearson so yes, I would include him.

 

[Geordie]

The A team I want it used as a stepping stone for players - whether that's guys in the full squad who are not being used and you want to see how they perform outside of their club environment (e.g. AOF, Beard, maybe Roebuck) or fresh faces you want to see for the same reasons

Wouldn't mind seeing a cap limit on it tbh,
10 cap hard limit, or 5 in the past year
Keep it purely developmental, but keep the door open for guys like OHC or Dingwall who have gotten a couple of caps but continued to develop since getting dropped but you don't end up with like Ford dropping down to get minutes (.....or Ewels)

To be honest I'm just glad to see the A team back in operation. It's the stepping stone (taster) for a few lads to see if they can move up from Club to International. As long as it benefits the Seniors going forward I'm happy however it's used.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I want to see if Cleaves will get there, when he goes he's absolutely electric, definitely one to watch

Plus he's got a great name

 

[Rugbyfan564]

English rugby union bosses are considering a "rookie league" that could be introduced at U20 level as soon as next season, with new data reinforcing the belief that the best youngsters in the country are still not playing enough. (Daily Telegraph)

That could be an interesting development if it happens and works as they intend.

 

[Which Tyler]

It'd be interesting to see their data, and their definition of "enough" - given that more and more U20s are getting Prem and PRC experience.
The obvious solution though, is to NOT kill the PRC, and maybe put an "experience" cap on it (for the Prem clubs, at least).

PRL seem be saying:
Problem: our young adults aren't getting enough game time (but just... trust us on this)*
Problem: we have a large gap in the calendar when we're not receiving any gate money, during the AIs and 6N

Solution: kill the competition designed to give young adults game time, which currently fills the large gap in the calendar during the AIs and 6N
Solution: start a new competition, which fewer fans will have any interest in, so that our young adults can get game time and we can fill our stadia during the AIs and 6N


*this bit may be being unfair - if they're actually sharing their data, and it's accurate and contradicts my subjective view.

ETA: This should surely be in the PRC thread, or a new one of its own - doesn't seem to have anything at all to do with England's 6N squad for 2025

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'm massively for it tbh

 

[Scotty]

English rugby union bosses are considering a "rookie league" that could be introduced at U20 level as soon as next season, with new data reinforcing the belief that the best youngsters in the country are still not playing enough. (Daily Telegraph)

That could be an interesting development if it happens and works as they intend.

I'd rather something like an under 22/23 league come so it captures the U20s + young players past that trying to make it or just made it into the first team.

Some guys are playing for first team/England by Early 20s and some don't get as much of a chance to show what they can do post U20s. Pollock at u20 was in the senior England squad but for those players that don't get that much first team gametime for club this could give a real stepping stone. It also has the added bennefit of pushing the current holder of the shirt in the first team to do better because he is watching this young lad tear it up week in week out ready to step up.

 

[Rinkadink]

Didn't realise he'd missed that many tackles. That's poor from a back row.

Just catching up with this thread, whilst 5 missed surprised me the much lauded Curry managed to miss 3, completing 11. The maligned Genge made 11 and missed 0 in less time on the park.

People tend to see what they want to see.