England U20s ring the changes for France rematch

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England Women Under 20s Head Coach Jo Yapp has named her side to take on France U20s at Esher RFC, kick off 2pm, on Saturday.

Yapp’s side were disappointed to lose out 25-0 to France on French turf last month and will be hoping for better fortunes this time around.

England have recalled Bristol’s Sydney Gregson, who made her senior debut for England in the Six Nations in February, at fullback with Rachel Lund moving to centre. Bristol’s Devon Holt also switches from scrum-half to wing, with Caity Mattinson returning from injury to wear the number nine shirt.

Bristol prop Abbie Parson will captain the young chargers with Rebecca Noon coming in at hooker. Amy Wigley is also given the nod to start at lock alongside Olivia Jones.

Yapp said: “We were frustrated with our performance last time out against France. We didn’t stick to our game plan fully but when we got it right we looked strong. We must put that right this weekend, especially as France are very successful in broken field play. We need to be more savvy tactically in that area. Certainly the players have learned a lot from that game so I am confident we will see progression this weekend.”

England (Club, CB, Academy, AASE college)

15 Sydney Gregson (Bristol, Hertfordshire, South East, Hartpury College)

14 Devon Holt (Bristol, Berkshire, South West)

13 Rachel Lund (VC) (Worcester, Yorkshire, Midlands)

12 Emily Wood (Lichfield, Gloucestershire, South West)

11 Charlotte Clapp (Saracens, South East)

10 Sarah Nicholas (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)

9 Caity Mattinson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Gloucestershire, North)

1 Abbie Parsons (C) (Bristol, Berkshire, South West)

2 Rebecca Noon (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)

3 Katie Trevarthen (Camp Hill, Notts, Lincs & Derby, Midlands)

4 Amy Wigley (Lichfield, North, Midlands)

5 Olivia Jones (Bristol, Oxfordshire, South West)

6 Abigail Walker (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)

7 Sarah Bern (Esher, Surrey, South East, Hartpury College)

8 Sally Stott (Vale of Lune, Lancashire, North)

Replacements:

16 Lark Davies (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands)

17 Henrietta Burkinshaw (Lichfield, Yorkshire, North)

18 Georgia Bradley (Hartpury/Bristol, South East, Hartpury College)

19 Catherine O’Donnell (Vale of Lune, Cumbria, North)

20 Rebecca Trist (Worcester, Lancashire, South West )

21 Lucy Nye  (Lichfield, Devon, South West)

22 Charlotte Holland (Bath, Devon, South West)

23 Zoe Aldcroft (Hartpury, Yorkshire, North, Hartpury College)

England U20s playing schedule:

England 25-10 Army,  Tuesday February 17, Aldershot Army Rugby Stadium
France 25-0 England, Saturday February 28, Stade Sainte-Germaine, Bordeaux
England v France, Saturday March 21, KO 2pm, Esher RFC