and the newcomers include many of the players who won the Under-18 Home Nations Championship for the first time in 12 years like Alex Tait, the Newcastle Falcons full-back whose brother Mathew is already in the senior England side.
Hugo Ellis (London Wasps number eight and captain)
"I'm delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the side and be at the forefront of what we're doing. We want to pick up where we left off last season.
"I'd like to be a captain who inspires people and leads from the front - and also one who encourages the team to make sure we play an exciting brand of rugby.
"Everyone's integrated very well. As well as the players who were in Dubai a lot of the boys played together in the Under-18 side last year.
"Italy was a good game last year - they're an aggressive side with a big front five and they'll be a physical team and a real challenge for us.
"With England we get a freedom you don't always get at club level. We're free to create our own play-book and react to situations as they happen. We learn all the time and learn during the games.
"At Wasps I've been working with James Haskell a lot and to be brushing shoulders with great players like Lawrence Dallaglio and Joe Worsley can only rub off on you."
Alex Tait (Newcastle Falcons full-back and vice-captain)
"The high point of last year for me was being part of the Under-18 team that beat Wales and won the championship outright for the first time in 12 years. The year before we lost to them and only shared the title, so to win it was a good feeling.
"I think this side will be a good attacking one with plenty of pace and a pack of forwards who can put us on the front foot and we've gelled together well as a team in training. There are a fair few of us who know each other from the Under-18s like Dave Smith, Billy Moss, Matt Cox and Gareth Griffiths.
"Our main aim is to do well in the Under-19 World Championship and to beat the third place finish we got last year. For me personally it's to play consistently well for the Under-19s and for my club.
"The next step for me at Newcastle is to get some first team games under my belt and to try and establish myself in the team maybe next season.
"I usually do my extra work after training at Newcastle with my brother [England centre Mathew Tait] and it would be nice to play in the same team as him one day.
"If that happens it'd be the first time we've played together since Consett Under-8s. We were supposed to do so at school for Barnard Castle in the first team but I missed out on that when I had a prolapsed disc in my back.
"I'm looking forward to Italy and I'm sure if we can take them on up front and match them there we'll do well."
David Smith (Northampton Saints wing)
"Our main aim is to improve on what we achieved last year, test ourselves against the rest of the world and test our core skills at that level. If we develop as a side we should be able to get another step up the ladder from last year.
"The Under-18s came together well last year and I think this team is further down the track because we know each other well now - we've all played together and the group's come together well.
"At Northampton I've played lots of Wanderers and A League games this season and I hope I can get my chance in the first team next season. I've been working on a lot of things, particularly my kicking with the Academy backs coach Ali Hepher and doing a lot of extra work with the other back three players.
"I'm not sure if there were really any individuals who inspired me when I was younger but I always enjoyed watching backs giving it a go - sides running it rather than playing 10-man rugby - starting with French teams with the likes of Philippe Sella and Philippe Saint Andre."
Richard Bolt (Exeter Chiefs scrum-half)
"I made my debut for Exeter in National League One at the age of 17 at the end of 2005 and I'm enjoying life with them this season. I'm flying back to join up with them on Friday night.
"I think I've become a better player for being in the Under-19 environment last year. I worked a lot on my skills with Jon Callard and improved the standard of my average game. I'm still working on my kicking, passing and decision making around the rucks. I think getting the ball away quickly is one of my main strengths.
"Our ambition is that we all want to take it higher than we did last year and to improve again as players.
"To do that we all have to clue-in to what we're trying to do and if we work together and run well off each other then we can clinch it.
"We're a very fit team and if we keep running at teams we'll break them down. We've got lots of pace in the side and while we're not as big as last year there's a nice edge of experience there. I'm looking forward to working with Hugo Ellis again at the back of the scrum.
"We're looking forward to facing Italy again and we know they're one of those teams that doesn't give up. They just kep on going last year and they're quite big up front, but if we beat them there I hope we can put some points on the board."
