Leicester Tigers centre Tom Youngs returns from injury to claim a starting role for England U-20s on Friday evening. Youngs suffered an ankle injury on his Guinness Premiership debut away to London Irish on Boxing Day, but has recovered in time to join two Tigers colleagues in the starting XV to face Italy U-21s at the Recreation Ground, Bath, in a game to be shown live on Sky Sports 3.

Tigers winger Ollie Dodge and back row Alex Shaw, who both started last weekend's 31-5 victory over Scotland, have retained their places for the second international of the campaign.

Youngs takes over from Adam Thompstone in the centre as one of four changes to the side that beat the Scots. Tom Mercey comes in for Jack Forster, Charlie Beech is at loose-head prop instead of Leicester's Dan Cole and David Doherty returns from illness to replace Frankie Neale at full-back.

England face U-21 opposition on Friday because, Italy, like France, have not yet followed the Home Nations in moving to an U-20s age group.

England U-20s

15      David Doherty (London Wasps)
14      Ollie Dodge (Leicester Tigers)
13      Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
12      Adam Powell (Saracens)
11      Selorm Kuadey (Sale Sharks)
10      Seb Jewell (NEC Harlequins)
9       Danny Care (NEC Harlequins, captain)
1       Charlie Beech (Northampton Saints)
2       Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
3       Tom Mercey (Saracens)
4       Dave Attwood (Bristol Rugby)
5       Phil Hoy (Northampton Saints)
6       Alex Shaw (Leicester Tigers)
7       Chevvy Pennycook (Bristol Rugby)
8       David Tait (Sale Sharks)

Replacements

16      Tom Standfield (London Irish)
17      Jack Forster (Gloucester Rugby)
18      Hugo Ellis (London Wasps)
19      Matt Cox (Worcester Warriors)
20      Tom Parker (London Irish)
21      Frankie Neale (Saracens)
22      James Tirrell (Saracens)