England women’s U18 head coach James Cooper has named his squad to compete in their home Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival at Wellington College, taking place between the 7th and 15thApril.
Cooper’s 28-player squad will be captained by Hartpury College and Gloucester Hartpury’s Sophie McQueen.
The England women’s U18 side will play five fixtures across three matchdays, facing off against their traditional Six Nations opponents including in the tournament’s opening game against Wales on Friday, 7 April (KO 10:00am).
To promote an appropriate and competitive playing environment, teams will play four 35-minute fixtures across the first two matchdays followed by one full 70-minute fixture on the final matchday.
Speaking of the squad announcement, Cooper said: “Well done to all players part of the squad. We’re very excited to not only be competing in the Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival but also to be the host nation, so this will a very special occasion for all those selected.
“Our squad has a mix of experienced and emerging players. What’s been really encouraging is seeing the benefit of the Centres of Excellence and other environments of player identification and development – there are a few great examples in this squad of young women only recently forcing their way into contention through these avenues, or who were selected in previous England camps but were released, went away and worked on their game at their CoE, only to earn selection for the Six Nations.
“The entire coaching staff is confident that these 28 players will represent their country proudly when they wear the rose at Wellington College.”
England’s U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival Squad
Daisy Aspinall (Burton, Gloucester Hartpury)
Lauren Bailey (Dings Crusaders, Bristol)
Lucy Calladine (Burton, Worcester)
Bridget Campbell (Sandal, Yorkshire)
Connie Clarke (Preston Grasshoppers, Sale)
Ella Cromack (Reading, Wasps)
Millie David (Reading, Wasps)
Natalee Evans (Shrewsbury, Worcester)
Lucy Finch (Henley College, Harlequins)
Emma Gerrard (Morpeth, North East & Cumbria)
Evie Haskell (Mansfield, Loughborough)
Millie Hyett (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury)
Lauren Knowler (Henley College, Harlequins)
Haineala Lutui (Worcester, Worcester)
Amelia MacDougall (Old Albanians, Saracens)
Sophie McQueen (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury)
Annabel Meta (Wimbledon, Harlequins)
Sarah Parry (Shrewsbury, Worcester)
Josie Plant (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter)
Tilly Poland (Farnham, Harlequins)
Anna Richardson (Tynedale, North East & Cumbria)
Hannah Sams (Ivybridge, Exeter)
Lucie Sams (Liverpool St Helens, Sale)
Sam Shiels (Henley College, Wasps)
Lucy Simpson (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury)
Lucy Ward (Exeter College, Exeter)
Amelia Williams (Medway, Gloucester Hartpury)
Ellie Wood (Sidmouth, Exeter)
U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival Fixtures
Matchday 1 – Friday 7th April (35 minute games)
England v Wales – 10am
Scotland v England – 11am
Wales v Scotland – 12pm
France v Ireland – 3pm
Italy v France – 4pm
Ireland v Italy – 5pm
Matchday 2 – Tuesday 11th April (35 minute games)
Scotland v Ireland – 10am
Ireland v England – 11am
France v Scotland – 12pm
England v Italy – 3pm
Wales v France – 4pm
Italy v Wales – 5pm
Matchday 3 – Saturday 15th April (70 minute games)
Italy v Scotland – 12pm
Ireland v Wales – 2.15pm
England v France – 4.30pm
