Head coach James Cooper has named his England U18 Women’s matchday sides for their trip to face Hartpury College this Saturday (8th, 13:00 GMT kick-off).
The 31-strong group travel to Gloucestershire for a fixture in preparation for the upcoming U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival following on from the third Women’s Player Development Group (PDG) playing opportunity in February.
Cooper, alongside assistant coach Ollie Perry, have purposely utilised a wider playing roster for this weekend’s encounter to ensure maximum playing opportunities ahead of the international window this spring.
With 25 players set for their first playing opportunity at U18 level for England, the squad is further complemented with experience in previously capped players Solana Shaw de Leon, Ashton Adcock, Isabel van der Straaten, Tamsin Baynes, Jo Vosakiwaiwai and Aisha Jah.
England U18 Women are also set to face Ireland in Dublin on Sunday 30th March before the 2025 U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival commences, with fixture and venue details to be communicated in due course.
Ollie Perry said: “The squad are incredibly excited for their first taste of competitive rugby for England this season, with each member eager to impress with a busy month ahead.
“Courage and lead-self have been pillars of our work so far this season and it’s now time for our players to increase their intensity, demonstrate a positive mindset and to bond on the field for the first time.
“We’re grateful to our hosts in Hartpury for welcoming us this year and look forward to a competitive 70 minutes this Saturday.”
England U18 Women’s first-half team to face Hartpury College (includes Player Development Group (PDG) centre, club and school)
15 Eva Ladyman (Becky Essex PDG, Olney, Loughborough College)
14 Solana Shaw de Leon (Rachael Burford PDG, Sutton and Epsom, Worthing College) *
13 Hannah Smyth (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury College)
12 Charlotte Wreford (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter College)
11 Josephine Harris (Emma Mitchell PDG, Chinnor, City of Oxford College)
10 Katherine Dyke (Nolli Waterman PDG, Winscombe Warriors, Exeter College)
9 Ashton Adcock (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough College) *
1 Libby Naughton (Emma Mitchell PDG, Chippenham, Hartpury College)
2 Harli Stanton (Becky Essex PDG, Sandal, Loughborough College)
3 Isabel van der Straaten (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Eton Manor, Mossbourne Community Academy) *
4 Tamsin Baynes (Becky Essex PDG, Market Harborough, Loughborough College) *
5 Demelza Short (Nolli Waterman PDG, Crediton, Blundells School)
6 Seren Coombs (Rachel Burford PDG, Guildfordians RFC, Le Rocquier School)
7 Jess Taylor (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Ipswich, Oaklands College)
8 Honey Kerslake (Nolli Waterman PDG, Crediton, Exeter College)
England U18 Women’s second-half team to face Hartpury College (includes Player Development Group (PDG) centre, club and school)
15 Imogen Mockford (Rachel Burford PDG, Sevenoaks, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls)
14 Lily Pereira dos Santos (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Finchley, Oakland College)
13 Charlotte Coyle (Emma Mitchell PDG, Marlow RUFC, Leighton Park)
12 Holly Jackson (Emma Mitchell PDG, Horsham, Cardinal Newman)
11 Jo Vosakiwaiwai (Emma Mitchell PDG, City of Oxford College) *
10 Charlotte Brookes (Rachael Burford PDG, Guildfordians RFC, Cranleigh School)
9 Charlotte Heath (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter College)
1 Maisy Wheeler (Becky Essex PDG, Old Northamptions, Loughborough College)
2 Chloe Butterworth (Jo Yapp PDG, Worcester, Hereford Sixth Form College)
3 Isla Pomroy (Emma Mitchell PDG, City of Oxford College)
4 Grace Keel (Nolli Waterman PDG, North Bristol, SGS College)
5 Alice Gray (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter College)
6 Joy Okechukwu (Rachel Burford PDG, Havant, Peter Symonds College)
7 Betsy Meads (Becky Essex PDG, Newark, Loughborough College)
8 Maisie Masquelier (Jo Yapp PDG, Dings Crusaders RFC, Exeter College)
Replacement
16 Aisha Jah (Becky Essex PDG, Mansfield, West Notts College) *
*denotes a player previously capped at U18 level for England
Rugby Football Union Women’s Player Development Group (PDG) Centres:
North East – Sarah Hunter PDG (Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria)
Yorkshire – Karen Almond PDG (Yorkshire)
North West – Helen Clayton PDG (Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire)
Midlands 1 – Jo Yapp PDG (North Midlands, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire)
Midlands 2 – Becky Essex PDG (Nottinghamshire Lincolnshire Derbyshire, Leicestershire, East Midlands)
Central South & Eastern – Maggie Alphonsi PDG (Middlesex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Eastern Counties)
South East – Rachael Burford PDG (Kent, Surrey, Sussex)
South – Emma Mitchell PDG (Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset & Wiltshire)
South West – Danielle ‘Nolli’ Waterman PDG (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset)
With thanks to the RFU
