Head coach LJ Lewis and assistant coach Sarah McKenna have selected a 34-player squad for this week’s England U21 Women’s camp at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.
Lewis’ side open their 2026 with a four-day meeting in Berkshire starting this Thursday, then assembling next week at Loughborough University’s Elite Athlete Centre during the Premiership Women’s Rugby break.
Boasting previous U20 caps, Sophie Hopkins, Poppy Love and Lucy Simpson are reintegrated into the squad as three of 18 capped squad members.
Alongside Hopkins, Jasmine Adonri, Keevy Fitzpatrick, Haidee Head, Hayley Jones, Haineala Lutui and Annabel Meta return from Pennyhill Park after training experience with John Mitchell’s Red Roses earlier on this week.
Former U18 Women’s representatives Katherine Dyke, Aisha Jah and Eva Ladyman join the U21 setup in Bisham, with Zoë Dare and Francesca Welsher also involved. Exeter Chiefs’ Dare was a late replacement for Joia Bennett in December’s Loughborough camp and earns her second call-up from Lewis.
As of the 2025/26 campaign, Lewis’ side will now operate as an U21 age-grade with the ability to call in up to five U23 players. The move is to enable a longer opportunity to support the development of more U18 graduates and a general wider player pool entering their adult rugby journey in an international environment.
Fixtures for England U21 Women, including warm-up matches and the Six Nations schedule, will be announced in due course.
LJ Lewis said: “Throughout the upcoming two-week block, we’re aiming to build on the momentum created in our opening camp of the season in Loughborough pre-Christmas.
“With a wider player pool, our competitive standards within the squad have elevated and we have been pleased with our players’ evident courage and leadership in our short time together.
“The gap in domestic club rugby affords us the opportunity to strengthen our bond as a group and concentrate our efforts on aligning our framework before match activity this spring.”
England U21 Women’s January camp squad at Bisham Abbey (includes current club, community club and previous U20 caps)
Forwards
Jasmine Adonri (Trailfinders Women, Dartford Valley Rugby Club, 3 caps)
Tamsin Baynes (Loughborough Lightning, Market Harborough RFC, uncapped)
Zoë Dare (Exeter Chiefs, Cullompton RFC, uncapped)
Keevy Fitzpatrick (Loughborough Lightning, Sudbury RFC, 2 caps)
Zara Green (Harlequins, Lewes RFC, 2 caps)
Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, Easts Tigers Rugby Union, uncapped)
Aisha Jah (Bristol Bears, Mansfield, uncapped)
Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, Ealing Trailfinders, uncapped)
Grace Keel (Harlequins, North Bristol, uncapped)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, Worcester RFC, 2 caps)
Sophie McQueen (Gloucester-Hartpury, Chippenham RFC, 3 caps)
Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, Wimbledon RFC, 5 caps)
Maddy Page (Harlequins, Buckingham RFC, 2 caps)
Lilly Plowman (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, 2 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, Crediton RFC, uncapped)
Lucy Simpson (Gloucester-Hartpury, Rams RFC, 3 caps)
Jodie Verghese (Saracens, Thurrock RFC, uncapped)
Ellie Wilson (Gloucester-Hartpury, Gosford All Blacks, uncapped)
Ruby Winstanley (Harlequins, Guildfordians RFC, uncapped)
Backs
Ashton Adcock (Loughborough Lightning, Tamworth, 1 cap)
Molly Bunker (Gloucester-Hartpury, Havant RFC, 2 caps)
Isabelle Clist (Loughborough University, Cullompton, uncapped)
Ella Cromack (Harlequins, Reading RFC, 7 caps)
Nikki Davenhill (Hartpury University, Evesham RFC, uncapped)
Katherine Dyke (Exeter University, Winscombe Warriors, uncapped)
Sophie Hopkins (LOU Rugby, Fullerians RFC, 7 caps) *
Eva Ladyman (Loughborough University, Olney, uncapped)
Poppy Love (Trailfinders Women, Grasshoppers RFC, 2 caps)
Jemma-Jo Linkins (Saracens, Ashford RFC, uncapped)
Carmela Morrall (Loughborough Lightning, Dubai Hurricanes, 7 caps)
Ellen Scantlebury (Loughborough Lightning, Winscombe RFC, uncapped)
Solana Shaw de Leon (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom, uncapped)
Francesca Welsher (Exeter University, Winscombe, uncapped)
Grace White (Trailfinders Women, Winscombe RFC, 1 cap)
*Playing for LOU Rugby whilst on a study placement year
