Five members of the Leicester Tigers senior academy lined up in national colours on Saturday as part of the England Under-20s team against Ireland.
While four senior colleagues represented England at Twickenham, Tigers back-rower Emeka Ilione led the age-group team which also included his clubmates Jacob Cusick, Sam Edwards, Lewis Chessum and debutant Tim Hoyt.
Ilione was among the England tryscorers in a first half which ended level at 17-17, but the Irish pulled away after the break with three tries to two on the way to a 42-27 victory at the home of Saracens.
George Hendy, who latched on to a pass from Cusick, scored England’s first, with other scores from Cassius Cleaves and Deago Bailey.
Ireland’s tryscorers were Aitzol King (2), Matthew Devine, Lorcan McLoughlin and Rory McGuire.
England U20: 15 George Hendy (Northampton Saints), 14 Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears), 13 Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers), 12 Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints), 11 Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins), 10 Jamie Benson (Harlequins), 9 Sam Edwards (Leicester Tigers); 1 Fin Baxter (Harlequins), 2 John Stewart (Bath Rugby), 3 Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers), 4 Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers), 5 Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints), 6 Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby), 7 Toby Knight (Saracens), 8 Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers)(c)
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald-Thomas (Worcester Warriors), 17 Mark Dormer (Newcastle Falcons), 18 Mikey Summerfield (London Irish), 19 Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish), 20 Lucas Brooke (London Irish), 21 Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks), 22 Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons), 23 Will Joseph (London Irish)
Ireland U20: 15 Patrick Campbell, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Ben Carson, 11 Fionn Gibbons, 10 Charlie Tector, 9 Matthew Devine; 1 Jack Boyle, 2. James McCormick, 3. Rory McGuire, 4. Rory O'Tighearnaigh, 5. Mark Morrissey, 6. Lorcan McLoughlin, 7. Reuben Crothers (c), 8 James Culhane.
Replacements: 16 Josh Hanlon, 17 Oisin Michel, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 James McNabney, 20 Diarmuid Mangan, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Aitzol King
