Mapletoft is keen to build for the future in defence of title

MARK Mapletoft says his group have put their groundbreaking 2024 behind them, operating with a clean slate going into their Six Nations title defence.

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England U20s hoisted up both the Six Nations and Junior World Cup last year but with a whole host of new players looking to follow in their footsteps, predecessors Mapletoft is focusing on the future.

Last season's top two England and Ireland, who drew 32-32 at the Rec last season, meet again in a mouthwatering curtain raiser on Thursday in Cork.

Having operated with a conveyor belt of captains from Leicester Tigers since 2020 Jack van Poortvliet, Emeka Ilione, Lewis Chessum and Finn Cardnuff England have this year decided against announcing a captain and will instead provide opportunities for different players to lead the side.

Mapletoft told The Rugby Paper: "It's a tough start to the tournament. It's a big challenge and is different playing on a Thursday night which is a bit unusual. It doesn't give the lads much. of a turnaround from those who are playing on the weekend but Thursday night rugby is exciting.

"We've had some great games against each other, a couple of crackers last year, the World Cup semi-final and the draw down in Bath. Every year's different, we've got a lot of guys left over from last year and Ireland have got half a dozen as well. So, there's a lot of experience coming into the game and it's a brilliant opportunity for the lads to test themselves against their peers.

"I'm not trying to talk much about last year.

It'd be very easy to say we did this, we did that.