The annual World Under-20 Championship kicks off this Saturday, with rugby’s brightest young talents set to do battle in a competition that has launched the international careers of legends such as Aaron Smith and Siya Kolisi, as well as modern superstars Antoine Dupont and Henry Pollock.
For England - and young Exeter Chiefs centre Nick Lilley - the competition represents an opportunity to put their “best foot forward”, with ambitions of lifting one of age-grade rugby’s most prestigious trophies.
With Prem Rugby producing more tries and drama than ever before, alongside the rising profile of the Champ and BUCS Super Rugby, the question is whether Andy Titterrell’s side can capitalise on the wave of talent at their disposal and add a fifth World Championship title to England’s collection.
Among their ranks is the experienced Lilley, who has featured in many of those competitions this season - the Prem, Prem Cup, and Challenge Cup with Exeter Chiefs, National One with Plymouth Albion and BUCS Super Rugby with Exeter University.
Having made an impressive senior debut and becoming the Chiefs’ youngest-ever try scorer in a win over Northampton Saints last season, Lilley spoke about how playing across different environments has accelerated his development.
"I think it's really important being able to mix in between teams and still be able to put your best foot forward because it's never going to be perfect, but I think National One, especially, is hard and it toughens you up pretty quickly.
“Moving across to Prem, the noise is a big thing. There is so much chat going on there that I think that's the biggest thing that I picked up on - to never have a quiet moment."
Lilley, an abrasive and physical centre, has made five appearances for Exeter Chiefs this season, including in their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat against Ulster. He also credits the expressive nature of BUCS Super Rugby as a major factor in his development.
"BUCS has been quite a big part of that," says Lilley. "It helps you build confidence and it helps you think like you want to get your hands on the ball as much as you can, and you can show what you've got.
"When I am back training for the Chiefs, I’m trying to take that stuff I am doing on the BUCS field across and impress the coaches."
His most recent BUCS appearance for Exeter University was in a thriller - a 58-48 semi-final defeat to Loughborough in April, in which Lilley scored twice and Gareth Elliott's side nearly overturned a 30-point deficit.
"It reflected the season really well, actually," explains Lilley after Exeter ended the regular campaign in third.
"We had periods where we switched off a bit, but then obviously a good group of boys dug in in the second half and we got it back to a 10-point game.
"We had a few third years who were leaving, so everyone dug in for each other and tried giving the boys a good send-off."
Now heading into his third year at Exeter University, Lilley highlighted where he feels the side can improve in their pursuit of another BUCS Super Rugby title.
"I think they're getting into an early pre-season so hopefully everyone can just gel together pretty early, get the new freshers on board, and just everyone get together and I think we can close the gap [to Bath + Loughborough] easily. We've got the talent. It's just working together."
That confidence built in university rugby is now feeding directly into Lilley’s progress at senior level. After steadily breaking through at Exeter Chiefs, his focus has shifted towards establishing himself in a side clearly on the rise.
His involvement in Exeter’s Challenge Cup semi-final reflected the club’s progression from ninth place last season to a Prem final and an impressive European run.
"Starting off at the end of pre-season, there was just a massive confidence in the group and a buzz, especially with all the new signings we've made with some pretty big superstars coming through.
“Everyone bought into what we believed in and within the group, we knew that the play-offs were in our hands and we could always make that."
Much of the praise surrounding Exeter’s resurgence has gone to director of rugby Rob Baxter, whom Lilley cited as central to the shift in mentality.
"He just wants us to graft and work as hard as we can," Lilley adds. "He's got a belief that we will never give up.
“If we can't win, we'll draw and if we can't draw, we'll lose by one and I think you can really see that this season with all the bonus points that we managed to pick up in those tight games."
As Lilley continues to establish himself in Exeter’s senior environment, another key part of his development has come from the players around him - none more influential than Henry Slade, one of the Premiership's most intelligent midfield operators.
"He's a fountain of knowledge that man," Lilley beams. "He knows everything so just watching him in training, watching his scanning, watching his talking is invaluable.
"He’s so smart with his defensive reading and stuff, and especially at scrum D, he's always in the right place so trying to copy elements of his game into mine gives me something to work towards."
Those lessons now travel with Lilley onto the international stage. Heading into the World Under-20 Championship in Georgia, the Devon-born centre has an opportunity to write his own story, hoping to follow a path similar to Slade’s after his mentor helped England lift the Under-20 title in 2013.
Drawn alongside familiar rivals Ireland, Argentina and the USA, England have a more favourable group than last year, when defeat to eventual champions South Africa denied them a place in the knockout stages.
But Lilley, who has made 13 appearances at Under-20 level, believes this group can go further.
"I think the biggest thing is just helping everyone to feel confident. I think last year, what helped me is that everyone was friendly with each other so no one was too afraid to make a mistake and that brings out the best in everyone. Showing that X factor that we have.
"Just reinforcing that grit as well is important, working hard because it's pretty hot over here, which we aren’t used to back at home."
With preparations intensifying, much of England’s focus has naturally shifted towards their opening test against Ireland. But amid the demands of tournament rugby, the squad has also found time to build chemistry off the field.
Paddleboarding has become the squad’s chosen way to relax and cool off in Tbilisi as they continue building cohesion ahead of their opener on Saturday.
But Ireland will be aiming to make England wobble by securing back-to-back wins over them after their memorable 31-21 victory in the Under-20 Six Nations back in February - a result Lilley and his teammates have not forgotten.
"Everyone was pretty hurt by that result, especially at home at the Rec, in front of so many people. So it's always in the back of our minds and we're just trying to use that.
"Our time's pretty precious here in camp. We have to put our best foot forward. We've all got a super strength that we think will help us win the World Championship.
"We want to play our brand of rugby with everyone enjoying it and making everyone at home proud, and hopefully we can inspire some of the younger boys and girls to take up rugby."
With a demanding climate and an unforgiving tournament ahead, that gritty Exeter Chiefs mentality may prove crucial for Lilley.
England also believe they have the talent to challenge for the title. If Lilley can help drive them deep into the tournament, he has every chance of adding his name to the storied list of Under-20 World Championship winners.
