HEAD coach Mark Mapletoft praised the England U20s as some of the most mentally resilient players he’s ever worked with after they were crowned world champions and completed an unbeaten 2024.
The Six Nations winners ended France’s dominance of the U20 World Championship with a 21-13 victory over their Six Nations rivals in South Africa on Friday night.
England’s forwards outmuscled the French pack with their power up front laying the platform for lock Joe Bailey’s and substitute Arthur Green’s tries, with Sean Kerr chipping in 11 points off the tee.
It is England’s fourth U20s title, having not reached the final for six years, with their last triumph coming in 2016.
Mapletoft had previously coached Harlequins for more than a decade and had worked as a national academy coach for the RFU from 2007-10, working with the likes of Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs but believes the current crop are some of the best in how they overcome complications to win.
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