England have named their side for their opening game of the 2026 U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival this Thursday, 4.30pm BST.
James Cooper’s side kick off their tournament, which is held this year at Wellington College in Berkshire, with a contest against Wales. The format has been shaken up compared to previous years, instead of two Matchdays having a pair of 35 minutes fixtures for each side, with the third matchday being a single 70 minute game, Matchdays 1 and 3 are now both 70 minute games, while Matchday 2 is a pair of 35 minute games.
England arrive full of confidence after victories over Hartpury College and Ireland so far. They will face Ireland again on Matchday 2 (Monday 6th April) in one of the their two 35 minutes games, the other being Scotland. England’s final game will be against France on Friday 10th April.
Meghan Crilly, the Loughborough College outside centre, will again captain the side. She is alongside Oaklands College’s Scarlett Beech in the centres. In the half backs, City of Oxford College’s Summer Smith and Exeter College’s Beth Hall get the nod, while at full back it’s Exeter College’s Izzy Firth at full back, with Hartpury College’s Alice Fleming on the right wing, and the experienced Lily Pereira dos Santos of Oaklands College on the left.
Up front it’s an all-Hartpury College second row, Holly Bagnoweic and Charlie Williams, with two hartpury College players in the front row too, Isabella Lyndon at loosehead and Mali Hill at hooker, with Worthing College’s Eva Larkai at tighthead. In the back row City of Oxford College’s Hannah Foley is on the blindside, with Worthing College’s Evie Collingbourne on the openside, and Loughborough College’s Christal Koroiyadi is at 8.
The bench is a big one, with the tournament allowing the whole squad to be available for every match. Among the replacements is City of Oxford College’s Lotte Peirsegaele, who will make her debut if she comes on.
Speaking ahead of the game,James Cooper said: “Two good warm-up wins have put us in a strong place, but a tournament environment brings different mental challenges that we must be ready to meet with real courage and clarity”
“This week is about bonding as a group, trusting each other under pressure and then embracing that intensity that comes with representing our pathway. We want our squad to play fast and exciting rugby by being brave in their decision making and showing the ambition that defines England teams at their best.”
England U18 Women’s XV vs Wales:
15 Izzy Firth (Exeter College)
14 Alice Fleming (Hartpury College)
13 Meghan Crilly (Loughborough College, captain)
12 Scarlett Beech (Oaklands College)
11 Lily Pereira dos Santos (Oaklands College)
10 Beth Hall (Exeter College)
9 Summer Smith (City of Oxford College)
1 Isabella Lyndon (Hartpury College)
2 Mali Hill (Hartpury College)
3 Eva Larkai (Worthing College)
4 Holly Bagnowiec (Hartpury College)
5 Charlie Williams (Hartpury College)
6 Hannah Foley (City of Oxford College)
7 Evie Collingbourne (Worthing College)
8 Christal Koroiyadi (Loughborough College)
Replacements:
16 Maisie Trotman (Worthing College)
17 Lucie Sams (Exeter College)
18 Lotte Peirsegaele (City of Oxford College)
19 Leila Crick (Oaklands College)
20 Rowan Turney (Exeter College)
21 Amelia Rockley (Bishop Ramsey)
22 Alix Ahad (Oaklands College)
23 Rosalyn Civil (Hartpury College)
24 Charlotte Brookes (Cranleigh)
25 Martha Hallam (Loughborough College)
26 Millie Walker (Loughborough College)
27 Jemima Mitchell (Oaklands College)
England U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival 2026 Fixtures:
Matchday 1: Wales – Thursday 2nd April, 4.30pm KO
Matchday 2: Scotland & Ireland – Monday 6th April, 12pm & 1pm Kos
Matchday 3: France – Friday 10th April, 4.30pm KO
