England Women U20s head coach Amy Turner has named her matchday squad for this weekend’s Test against France (Saturday 26 March, KO 5pm).
Fresh from their 38-7 victory over Scotland Futures at the Darlington Arena last Saturday, Turner’s group travel to Evreux, Normandy to face Les Bleues.
Kelsey Clifford (tighthead prop) and Lilli Ives Campion (lock) come in for two changes to the starting XV.
Worcester Warriors’ Jemima Moss is among the finishers, as are Alicia Maude and Grace Crompton, who have both been released from England Sevens for this international window.
Wing Jenny Hesketh captains the side while Maisy Allen is vice-captain in a reversal of roles from last Saturday’s match.
The match is the first of back-to-back fixtures against France – England then host at Henley Hawks RFC on Saturday 2 April (KO 2pm). Entry to the home match will also be free.
Hesketh said: “We have been building in and out of camps for almost two seasons without being able to play any test matches and Scotland was a great opportunity for us to come together as a squad in this environment and put the work we’ve been doing onto the field. As a group we are very excited for this trip to France and are looking to push our standards even higher.
“I feel very privileged to be named as captain for this fixture. We are a close knit group and want to really come alive on the pitch this weekend.”
Allen added: “It’s really exciting for the squad to finally get to play under 20s fixtures as it’s been a long wait through Covid. A lot of us have been in the pathway for a long time together so being able to play for each other will really solidify the relationships. I think we’re in a really good place with the shape and set piece so will be good to put it into practice to prepare us for the upcoming France games.
“Having the opportunity to play against France is amazing, it won’t be like any ordinary trip for any of us. We’ve been preparing this season for these moments and I’m excited to see how the squad can build upon last week’s performance.
“After reviewing the game against Scotland we have recognised a few things to work on, as a different team could have exploited these areas, so these will be key focus points for us this weekend.”
Matchday squad to face Scotland
15. Abi Kershaw (Worcester Warriors)
14. Holly Thorpe (DMP Durham Sharks)
13. Georgina Tasker (Loughborough Lightning)
12. Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs)
11. Jenny Hesketh (C; Bristol Bears)
10. Lizzie Duffy (Sale Sharks)
9. Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs)
1. China Kill (Bristol Bears)
2. Alana Bainbridge (DMP Durham Sharks)
3. Kelsey Clifford (Saracens)
4. Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning)
5. Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears)
6. Nikita Prothero (Loughborough Lightning)
7. Maisy Allen (vice-captain Exeter Chiefs)
8. Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears)
Finishers
16. Rosie Dobson (Harlequins)
17. Abby Middlebrooke (Exeter Chiefs)
18. Georgie Grimes (Exeter Chief)
19. Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Sale Sharks)
20. Jemima Moss (Worcester Warriors)
21. Alicia Maude (Gloucester-Hartpury)
22. Pip Hendy (Gloucester-Hartpury)
23. Grace Crompton (Bristol Bears)
