Head coach LJ Lewis and assistant coach Sarah McKenna have selected their 34-player squad for the first England U21 Women’s training squad of the season.
Following on from last weekend’s U18 Women’s camp at Loughborough University, the wider squad assemble in the East Midlands today for a three-day meeting.
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.
Former U18 players Tamsin Baynes, Isabelle Clist, Grace Keel, Solana Shaw de Leon, Demelza Short, Hannah Smyth, Ellie Wilson and Rubie Winstanley progress into their maiden involvement in Lewis’ set-up.
Grace White, last capped in 2023 as an U20 player, is reintroduced to the fold with Nikki Davenhill and Ellen Scantlebury named in their first pathway camp squad. Maddie Flutey, Haidee Head, Jemma-Jo Linkins and Jodie Verghese also link up with the side after October’s women’s pathway positional camps.
18 of the selected cohort were capped at U20 level in previous seasons.
Across the week, Lewis and McKenna will be supported by Red Roses coaches Louis Deacon, Sarah Hunter and Andy Holloway, alongside Emily Scarratt and U18 coaches James Cooper, Ollie Perry and Benny Williams.
LJ Lewis said: “We’re incredibly excited to be moving into a new chapter for the women’s pathway as we take inspiration from the Red Roses winning the World Cup. Sarah [McKenna] and I are looking forward to seeing which players demonstrate leadership and courage, putting their hands up to become a potential future Red Rose and work towards retaining the next Rugby World Cup.
“This camp will align our pathway framework, professional behaviours and standards with a talented group, which includes some exciting additions from inside the pathway and BUCS Super Rugby.
“Within this framework, we’re aiming to play at speed with world-class skills to attack best space, maintain a ruthless mentality to get the ball back in defence and form a solid basis for a dominant set-piece.
“We strive to continue to develop players’ physicality by creating as many winning moments as possible, with or without the ball, underpinned by the players’ athletic ability to consistently showcasing the game of the future.”
England U21 Women’s December camp squad (includes 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)
Joia Bennett (Saracens, Old Albanian RFC, 7 caps)
Lucy Calladine (Loughborough Lightning, Burton Rugby Football Club, 9 caps)
Keevy Fitzpatrick (Loughborough Lightning, Sudbury RFC, 2 caps)
Zara Green (Harlequins, Lewes RFC, 2 caps)
Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, Easts Tigers Rugby Union, uncapped)
Grace Keel (Harlequins, North Bristol, uncapped)
Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, Ealing Trailfinders, 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)
Jodie Verghese (Saracens, Thurrock RFC, uncapped)
Amelia Williams (Loughborough Lightning, Medway RFC, 10 caps)
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, Cheltenham Tigers RFC, uncapped)
Maddie Flutey (Exeter Chiefs, Otago University RFC, uncapped)
Millie Hyett (Gloucester-Hartpury, Evesham RFC, 8 caps)
Jemma-Jo Linkins (Saracens, Ashford RFC, uncapped)
Carmela Morrall (Loughborough Lightning, Dubai Hurricanes, 7 caps)
Abigail Pritchard (Gloucester-Hartpury, Medway RFC, uncapped)
Ellen Scantlebury (Loughborough Lightning, Winscombe RFC, uncapped)
Solana Shaw de Leon (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom, uncapped)
Hannah Smyth (Gloucester-Hartpury, Kettering Rugby Club, uncapped)
Grace White (Trailfinders Women, Winscombe RFC, 1 cap)
Eva Wood (Sale Sharks, Old Halesonians RFC, 2 caps)
With thanks to the RFU
