England U18 Women’s head coach James Cooper and assistant coach Oli Perry have confirmed their matchday squad to face Ireland.
The capped 70-minute preparation fixture, taking place at the IRFU High Performance Centre this Sunday (13:00 kick-off), rounds off England’s preparations ahead of the 2026 Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival.
Cooper and Perry will continue to employ a different starting XV per half to maximise game time for a wider player pool in preparation for the Six Nations tournament.
Darcey Howchin continues on her leadership of the squad as first-half captain, whilst Meghan Crilly of the Becky Essex PDG is entrusted with the leadership of the squad in the final 35 minutes.
Prop forward Lucie Sams is reintegrated into the fold and is one of 25 players set to earn their first caps as England U18 Women’s players this Sunday.
England U18 Women face Wales at Wellington College on Thursday 2nd April (16:30 BST kick-off) to open this year’s Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival. All Six Nations Festival fixtures will be streamed live on the Six Nations U20 YouTube channel.
James Cooper said: “Facing Ireland is another important step in building towards Wellington College, and we were pleased with the courage and intensity shown in the first outing against Hartpury.
“We’re continuing to develop leadership across the group, with a real focus on mindset and how we respond under pressure to create winning moments.
“Just as importantly, the bond within the squad is growing stronger each week, which will be crucial as we head closer to the Six Nations.”
England U18 Women’s first-half squad to face Ireland (includes PDG site, school/college and England U18 caps)
15 Jemima Mitchell (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, uncapped)
14 Lily Pereira dos Santos (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, 5 caps)
13 Scarlett Beech (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, uncapped)
12 Rosalyn Civil (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
11 Millie Walker (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough, uncapped)
10 Charlotte Brookes (Rachael Burford PDG, 4 caps)
9 Alix Ahad (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands College, uncapped)
1 Isabella Lyndon (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
2 Darcey Howchin (C) (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
3 Saffiya Smaili (Emma Mitchell PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
4 Leila Crick (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, uncapped)
5 Evie Collingbourne (Rachael Burford PDG, Worthing, uncapped)
6 Hannah Foley (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, City of Oxford, uncapped)
7 Amelia Rockley (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, uncapped)
8 Christal Koroiyadi (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough, uncapped)
England U18 Women’s second-half squad to face Ireland (includes PDG site, school/college and England U18 caps)
15 Izzy Firth (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter, 1 cap)
14 Alice Fleming (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
13 Meghan Crilly (C) (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough, uncapped)
12 Martha Hallam (Karen Almond PDG, Loughborough, uncapped)
11 Isla Apiafi (Emma Mitchell PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
10 Beth Hall (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter, uncapped)
9 Summer Smith (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, City of Oxford, uncapped)
1 Lucie Sams (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter, uncapped)
2 Mali Hill (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
3 Eva Larkai (Rachael Burford PDG, Worthing, uncapped)
4 Holly Bagnowiec (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
5 Charlie Williams (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, uncapped)
6 Hannah Foley (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, City of Oxford, uncapped)
7 Rowan Turney (Rachael Burford PDG, Exeter College, uncapped)
8 Christal Koroiyadi (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough, uncapped)
England’s 2026 Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival fixtures and results
Hartpury College 0-70 England U18 Women (warm-up friendly) – Saturday 7h March – 12:30 GMT kick-off – Hartpury College
Ireland U18 Women vs. England U18 Women (warm-up friendly) – Sunday 22nd March – 13:00 BST kick-off – IRFU High Performance Centre
Under-18 Women’s 2026 Six Nations Festival Matchday 1 – Wales vs. England – Thursday 2nd April – 16:30 BST kick-off – Wellington College
Under-18 Women’s 2026 Six Nations Festival Matchday 2 – England vs. Scotland – Monday 6th April – 12:00 BST kick-off – Wellington College *
Under-18 Women’s 2026 Six Nations Festival Matchday 2 – Ireland vs. England – Monday 6th April – 13:00 BST kick-off – Wellington College *
Under-18 Women’s 2026 Six Nations Festival Matchday 3 – France vs. England – Friday 10th April – 16:30 BST kick-off – Wellington College
*denotes a 35-minute fixture
With thanks to the RFU
