England U19 Men are coming off a 60-14 win over Wales at Bristol last weekend, and beat Italy in the corresponding fixture in Verona last year 41-20.

After featuring in England’s U20 Six Nations campaign, Sale’s Tristan Woodman will captain the side from open-side flanker.

Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Afolabi Fasogbon are the starting props, packing down alongside Northampton’s Craig Wright at hooker.

Harvey Cuckson and Joe Bailey partner in the second row, while Nathan Michelow (blind-side flanker) and Zach Carr (No. 8) join Woodman in the back row.

Scrum half Ollie Allan forms a halves partnership with Sam Harris, and playing outside them will be Sean Kerr and Toby Thame in the centres.

Tobias Elliott and Alex Wills are on the wings with Ben Redshaw at full back.

James Isaacs, Scott Kirk, James Halliwell, Harry Browne, Patrick Pearce, Archie McParland, Josh Bellamy, Ludo Kolade, George Makepeace-Cubitt and Aaron Tull form an extended bench.

The U19 fixtures provide an avenue for players to continue their international development through the England Rugby pathways programme.

Dickens said: “This is our second clash in as many weeks, after our match against Wales last week in Bristol. It was a pleasing result for us but even better was seeing these players develop and perform at the international level in their own age group. 

“We have a number of players selected who were either part of the team that faced Italy in the Under-20 Six Nations or played in this same fixture last year at Verona. There are shared learnings from those experiences with the group.

“Tonight’s match against the Azzurri is another opportunity and a challenge. They take to the pitch with passion, play expansive rugby with a strong set piece and maul focus, and their players gel well having played a lot of rugby together.”

England U19 Men team to face Italy

15. Ben Redshaw (Newcastle)
14. Alex Wills (Sale)
13. Toby Thame (Northampton)
12. Sean Kerr (Harlequins)
11. Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
10. Sam Harris (Bath)
9. Ollie Allan (London Irish)
1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale)
2. Craig Wright (Northampton)
3. Afolabi Fasogbon (London Irish)
4. Harvey Cuckson (Bath)
5. Joe Bailey (Exeter)
6. Nathan Michelow (Saracens)
7. Tristan Woodman (Sale - Captain)
8. Zach Carr (Harlequins)

Replacements

16. James Isaacs (Saracens)
17. Scott Kirk (Bath)
18. James Halliwell (Bristol Bears)
19. Harry Browne (Harlequins)
20. Patrick Pearce (Bristol Bears)
21. Archie McParland (Northampton)
22. Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)
23. Ludo Kolade (Harlequins)
24. George Makepeace-Cubitt (London Irish)
25. Aaron Tull (Bristol Bears)