With only two months to go until the World Rugby U20 Championship kicks off in Georgia on 31 May, we pick out a number of players who will be looking to carry their stellar U20 Six Nations form into the competition.

Rhys Carre (Wales, prop): England may have had the only 100 per cent record at scrum-time on their own ball thanks, in part, to the excellent Ollie Dawe, but the prop who produced the most eye-catching performances over the course of the entire Championship belongs to Wales. Tipping the scales at 125kg, ever-present Carre gave opponents a ton of trouble at the engage as well as being a willing and effective ball carrier and fierce competitor on the floor. 

Ben Curry (England, flanker): It was one or the other Curry twin but Ben gets the nod over brother Tom purely on the basis he had more game time. Equally comfortable at six or seven, Curry plays in a similar fashion to his mentor, RWC 2003 winner Richard Hill: unflashy but extremely effective and industrious. Curry was England’s top tackler, making 50 and missing only two.

Faraj Fartass (France, winger): An electric winger of Tunisian descent who is capable of cutting defences to shreds. Only one player made more clean breaks than Fartass over the five weeks of competition and he crossed the whitewash for three tries in four appearances. The Stade Francais product has put a serious knee injury firmly behind him and looks to have all the attributes to do well at the highest level.

Darcy Graham (Scotland, full-back/winger): Generates excitement every time he has the ball in hand and earned himself a two-year professional deal with Edinburgh on the back of his early performances in the Championship. Graham, whose uncle Scott MacLeod played for Scotland at RWC 2007, scored three tries and created plenty of others and didn’t miss a single minute of action over the five games.

Nick Isiekwe (England, second-row): Just when you thought they’d broken the mould with World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year for 2016 and World Rugby U20 Championship 2014-winning captain Maro Itoje, along comes another Saracen who has it all. A gifted lineout jumper and ball carrier who has the hands of a back not a tight-five forward, he was very consistent throughout the Six Nations.

Jordan Larmour (Ireland, full-back/winger): A beautifully balanced runner who can cut defences to shreds with his speed and elusiveness, Larmour started the first three games of the Championship on the wing – scoring twice against Italy – and then switched to full-back for the final two games against Wales and England, covering a Championship-best 475 metres. A player with real x-factor and a big future.

Tadgh McElroy (Ireland, hooker): In terms of lineout throwing, it wasn’t a vintage U20s Six Nations for hookers. Champions England used four and the percentages were way down elsewhere. But while 12 of Tadgh McElroy’s 60 throws went astray, the Dundalk man grew with confidence in this area while also excelling in all other aspects of his play. Comfortable with ball in hand and great in the wide channels, McElroy is a real feisty competitor who will only get better with age.

Zach Mercer (England, number eight): Mercer proved a fine deputy for Ben Earl as England captain after his fellow back-rower suffered a tournament-ending knee injury in round two. The Bath Rugby player exudes confidence on and off the pitch and was a constant menace to defences with his forceful ball carrying and elusive running skills. He ended the Championship with three tries to his name, including a memoral one against Wales, and averaged just short of 20 carries per game as well as beating more defenders (23) than any other player. Honourable mention to goes to Ireland's Caelan Doris who, In any other season, would have been a shoo-in at number eight.

Romain Ntamack (France, fly-half): While Billy Johnston of Ireland is a brilliant tactician and goal-kicker, Romain Ntamack just has the edge in terms of x-factor. Able to put team-mates through holes or ghost through defences himself, Ntamack seems to be blessed with the talent that his father, Les Bleus and Toulouse legend Emile, possessed. If he can up his goal-kicking percentages (13 from 19 – 64 per cent), he’ll tick all the right boxes.

Marco Riccioni (Italy, prop): Italy’s try-scoring captain against Scotland and a tight-head of great promise. A powerful scrummager, the Calvisano player continued where he left off after enjoying a strong World Rugby U20 Championship campaign in Manchester last year and looks destined to be the cornerstone of the Azzurri’s pack in the years to come.

Kieran Williams (Wales, centre): Resembles Scott Gibbs with his low centre of gravity and running style. A muscular presence in midfield capable of breaking the line through sheer physical presence or his good footwork, Williams sprinted home for a Championship-best five tries in as many appearances. Very strong over the ball and effective at the breakdown too.

The World Rugby U20 Championship 2017 takes place in Georgia from 31 May to 18 June when England will be looking to defend their title, for more information on the tournament visit www.worldrugby.org/u20 or join the conversation @WorldRugby.