Five Harlequins players have been selected in England’s U20s squad for this summer's IRB Junior World Championships in June.

Joe Marler, Charlie Matthews, Tom Casson, Rory Clegg and Sam Smith are in a 26-strong side that head coach Mark Mapletoft feels can mount a serious challenge for the world title.

England, who have been grouped with the host nation, Ireland and France in the pool stages, have reached the past two JWC finals, only to be beaten by New Zealand in both.

Players of the calibre of Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs and Northampton Saints lock Courtney Lawes have been catapulted into Martin Johnson's senior squad on the back of their rise through the junior ranks.

Prop Marler and fly-half Clegg join Jamie George (Saracens), Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers) and Tom Homer (London Irish) as survivors from last year.

England finished second behind Ireland on points difference in this year’s U20 RBS 6 Nations but, with all their Guinness Premiership players available, they signed off in style with a record points haul in the 47-33 victory in France.

Mapletoft said: "The way we finished the Six Nations, with some of our attacking play, makes it hard not to be enthused and the players not involved at the back-end of the tournament have really bounced back fantastically well. You've got to have players in form.

"The forwards performed consistently well, so that part of selection was fairly straightforward. The backs were a little bit more complicated after guys came in from outside the squad and did well, and other guys have picked up some good game time with their clubs. Overall we've got a really good balance."

The squad will be without one major casualty. Lock James Gaskell (Sale Sharks) appeared in last year's JWC final but has been ruled out by the foot injury that halted his stellar club progress in the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup. "His long term career is the most important thing," said Mapletoft. "We'll miss him as he was an outstanding performer in Japan but we have to get on with it."

Second seeds England are based in Rosario for their three Pool B games, starting with a high profile clash with Argentina at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque on June 5 before facing Ireland (June 9) and France (June 13). The semi final and final rounds take place on June 17 and 20.

Mapletoft added: "The group will be fascinating with three very difficult matches. In the Six Nations we lost to Ireland, then beat France quite comfortably, and Argentina at home is supposed to be our 'easiest' game! We'll have to be very strong. Whoever wins our group will be really battle-hardened going into the semi finals."

England U20 Junior World Championship squad

Forwards

Arthur Ellis (London Wasps) Jamie George (Saracens) Jamie Gibson (London Irish) Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons) Calum Green (Leicester Tigers) Lee Imiolek (Sale Sharks) Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby) George Kruis (Saracens) Joe Marler (Harlequins) Charlie Matthews (Harlequins) Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie) Mako Vunipola (Bristol Rugby) Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons) Jackson Wray (Saracens)

Backs

Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby) Tom Casson (Harlequins) Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons) Rory Clegg (Harlequins) Charlie Davies (Stade Francais) Andrew Forsyth (Leicester Tigers) Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers) Tom Homer (London Irish) Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) Sam Smith (Harlequins) Christian Wade (London Wasps)