“I’m excited to see what this squad can do at the World Cup,” England head coach Jon Lewis said.
“It will be a great challenge for them both on and off the field, playing in unfamiliar conditions against new opposition in matches that will be televised around the world. Each individual is improving in their specific roles within the side, but in South Africa, we’ll need to ensure these roles all come together to produce good team performances,” he added.
The 13th edition of the World Cup will be played between 16 teams, split into four groups. The top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super League stage. England have been placed in the Group B alongside with Australia, West Indies and Nigeria. They begin their campaign on January 20 against West Indies in Kimberley.
England have won U19 World Cup only once, under Owais Shah in 1998 when they defeated New Zealand in the final.
England squad:
George Balderson (captain), Kasey Aldridge, Ben Charlesworth, Tom Clark, Jordan Cox, Scott Currie, Blake Cullen, Harry Duke, Joey Evison, Lewis Goldsworthy, Jack Haynes, George Hill, Dan Mousley, Hamidullah Qadri, Sam Young.