Head coach James Cooper has named the England U18 Women’s side to face France in the 2025 U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival.
England take on France in each union’s first 70-minute game at 14:15 BST this Saturday (19th) on the final matchday of the 2025 Festival at Wellington College. Supporters can stream the U18 Festival live on the England Rugby YouTube channel, with matchday tickets available free of charge.
Hayley Jones of the Emma Mitchell PDG and Henley College continues as captain for the encounter, partnered by Aisha Jah and Isabel van der Straaten in the front row. Cooper and assistant coach Ollie Perry have selected the same pack that faced Wales on Matchday 2.
Charlotte Brookes switches to fly-half from inside centre and is accompanied in the backline by tournament try-scorers Hannah Smyth and Eva Ladyman.
Uncapped full-back Izzy Firth (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter College) could make her U18 Women’s bow if utilised from Cooper’s replacements bench.
James Cooper said: “Results haven’t been as we had hoped for, but our learning experiences have led to some invaluable development for all players and staff across our two weeks at Wellington College.
“The squad are excited to challenge themselves against one of the best nations in world rugby at this level. We have tasked this team to be courageous and show leadership in our work in training to ensure we’re best prepared for this weekend’s contest.
“A fixture against France is one that speaks for itself, and to do so on home soil elevates the occasion to a level we expect our players to match. As a group, we’re determined to finish strongly on Matchday 3.”
England U18 Women’s team to face France (includes Player Development Group (PDG) centre, community club, school/college and U18 caps)
15 Eva Ladyman (Becky Essex PDG, Olney, Loughborough College, 3 caps)
14 Hannah Smyth (Jo Yapp PDG, Kettering Rugby Club, Hartpury College, 6 caps)
13 Isabelle Clist (Nolli Waterman PDG, Cullompton, Wellington School, 3 caps)
12 Summer Charlesworth (Helen Clayton PDG, Mansfield RUFC, City of Oxford College, 2 caps)
11 Josephine Harris (Emma Mitchell PDG, Chinnor, City of Oxford College, 5 caps)
10 Charlotte Brookes (Rachael Burford PDG, Guildfordians RFC, Cranleigh School, 3 caps)
9 Ashton Adcock (Becky Essex PDG, Tamworth, Loughborough College, 7 caps)
1 Aisha Jah (Becky Essex PDG, Mansfield, West Notts College, 6 caps)
2 Hayley Jones (c) (Emma Mitchell PDG, Ealing Trailfinders, Henley College, 7 caps)
3 Isabel van der Straaten (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Eton Manor, Mossbourne Community Academy, 7 caps)
4 Tamsin Baynes (Becky Essex PDG, Market Harborough, Loughborough College, 9 caps)
5 Demelza Short (Nolli Waterman PDG, Crediton, Blundells School, 5 caps)
6 Joy Okechukwu (Rachel Burford PDG, Havant, Peter Symonds College, 3 caps)
7 Jess Taylor (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Ipswich, Oaklands College, 3 caps)
8 Honey Kerslake (Nolli Waterman PDG, Crediton, Exeter College, 3 caps)
Replacements
16 Harli Stanton (Becky Essex PDG, Sandal, Loughborough College, 3 caps)
17 Isla Pomroy (Emma Mitchell PDG, Banbury RUFC, City of Oxford College, 5 caps)
18 Sylvia Gallagher-Ball (Becky Essex PDG, Leicester Forest, Loughborough College, 3 caps)
19 Grace Keel (Nolli Waterman PDG, North Bristol, SGS College, 3 caps)
20 Betsy Meads (Becky Essex PDG, Newark, Loughborough College, 3 caps)
21 Seren Coombs (Rachel Burford PDG, Jersey RFC, Le Rocquier School, 3 caps)
22 Maisie Masquelier (Jo Yapp PDG, Dings Crusaders RFC, Exeter College, 2 caps)
23 Charlotte Coyle (Emma Mitchell PDG, Marlow RUFC, Leighton Park, 2 caps)
24 Charlotte Wreford (Nolli Waterman PDG, Crediton RFC, Exeter College, 3 caps)
25 Jo Vosakiwaiwai (Emma Mitchell PDG, Andover RFC, City of Oxford College, 8 caps)
26 Lily Pereira dos Santos (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Finchley, Oakland College, 4 caps)
27 Izzy Firth (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter College, uncapped)
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)
England U18 Women’s 2025 U18 Six Nations Festival fixtures and results
Each team will play 2 x 35-minute matches on MD1 and MD2, followed by 1 x 70-minute match on MD3 (MD1 – Friday 11th April, MD2 – Tuesday 15th April & MD3 Saturday 19th April).
Matchday 1 (Friday 11th April, 35min matches) – Italy 5-28 England (15:00 kick-off) – England 0-21 Ireland (17:00 kick-off)
Matchday 2 (Tuesday 15th April) (35min matches) – Wales 0-0 England (11:00 kick-off) – England 12-21 Scotland (12:00 kick-off)
Matchday 3 (Saturday 19th April) (70min match) – England vs. France (14:15 kick-off)
*All kick-off times are in local time (UK BST)
With thanks to the RFU
