England U20: Where the world champions will be playing next season

Among those to miss the final, or the tournament altogether, scrum-half Archie McParland is sitting behind Alex Mitchell and Tom James at third on Northampton’s scrum-half depth chart. A rocky first Premiership start at Bristol in March will at least have helped build experience.

Having featured eight times in the Premiership and twice more in the Challenge Cup for Newcastle Falcons last season, Ben Redshaw will remain in the first-team mix under Steve Diamond. Steve Borthwick is known to be a fan. Redshaw trained with the senior side during the World Cup and has another year at U20 level.

Billy Sela, a Bath University student, will return for England U20 next year. He has three senior international tightheads ahead of him at Bath in Archie Griffin, Will Stuart and Thomas du Toit. Andy Titterell suggested that BUCS might not be testing enough, so an appropriate loan, perhaps in the Championship, would seem important.

Saracens have already introduced Nathan Michelow, an industrious and tough No 8, at blindside flanker in Premiership games, while Oli Spencer strung together league appearances for Newcastle at the end of last season. Toby Cousins is yet to appear for Northampton seniors, but is a burly runner who has been loaned to Leicester Lions for some National One games.