Dangerous Chapman fully deserving of U20 call-up - Hall

Chapman was named in Steve Bates' 32-man Elite Player Squad earlier this week, as England prepare to defend their Grand Slam title in February and March - and Hall says the Academy wing has made a smooth transition into the professional game.

"Aaron has done extremely well," said Hall. "We met with him back in the early summer while he was still at school and had some conversations about potentially coming in for a trial period.

"He came in and really impressed during that period and Conor and Pat were really impressed with him. He’s worked really hard at his game and fully deserved to be offered a contract. Then, through his levels of performance in the A League and British and Irish Cup, he’s got a very deserved call-up to the England U20 squad."

The former King's College, Taunton pupil signed professional terms in September following a successful trial period, before going on to score twice on debut against Cardiff Blues Premiership Select XV and once against Doncaster Knights at Ashton Gate in the British and Irish Cup.

And Hall says the coaching team have been impressed by Chapman's physicality and killer instinct. 

"He’s a fantastic physical specimen. He’s certainly very powerful and quick – the attributes you want from an international winger – and he’s extremely dangerous with ball in hand.

"He’s showed on a number of occasions that he knows his way to the try line with some of his finishes. He scored a fantastic try against Cardiff Blues and another one against Saracens in the A League as well.

"He’s shown our coaches here – and the England coaches – what he’s capable of, and those physical attributes will stand him in good stead through the U20 Six Nations and, hopefully, into the Junior World Championship."

England open their U20 Six Nations campaign against Italy (February 2nd) before a home game against Wales in Newcastle (February 9th).

They then play Scotland in Edinburgh (February 23), France in Beziers (March 9) and will end their campaign against Ireland at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry (March 16).

England U20 EPS Squad 2017/18

Forwards:

Josh Basham (London Irish), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors), Ben Earl (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors), Dino Lamb (Harlequins), Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers), Sam Moore (Sale Sharks), Joe Morris (Worcester Warriors), Gabriel Oghre (Wasps), James Scott (Worcester Warriors), Alex Seville (Gloucester), Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs), Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints), Henry Walker (Gloucester), Tom Willis (Wasps).

Backs

Rory Brand (London Irish), Will Butler (Worcester Warriors), Aaron Chapman (Bristol), Ali Crossdale (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), James Grayson (Northampton Saints), Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers), Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins), Ben Loader (London Irish), Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers), Tom Parton (London Irish), Tom Seabrook (Gloucester), Joe Snow (Exeter Chiefs), Ben White (Leicester Tigers), Matt Williams (London Irish).