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Michaella selected for England u20's

Michaella selected for England u20's

Jeff Nicholas30 May 2016 - 10:34
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Camborne's Michaella Roberts earns England call up.

England Women have included 14 new players in the U20 squad for next season.

Of the 31 players named in the squad, a number gained international experience earlier this year having being involved in two matches against France.

England Women U20 will come together again this summer to take on Canada during a two-week residential camp in Nottingham in August.

Among the names returning to the squad is Poppy Leitch, who gained three senior England caps during the 2016 Six Nations, as well as Sarah Bern, Zoe Harrison and Abbie Dow, who all proved influential in the France games.

“We were really impressed with the quality of rugby we saw at the recent trials and that really demonstrates how the standard is improving year-on-year,” said Coach Jo Yapp.

“We are now excited to see how this group of players progress and develop throughout the programme.

“Our next camp is at the start of July where we will have both this season and last season’s squads in training. This camp will allow us to select players for the three tests against Canada in August.

“While this group will be joining the existing squad in July, we have also told those not selected that the door is always open. If they perform well at their clubs, we will consider bringing them in.”

TALENT DEVELOPMENT GROUP

The England Women U18 Talent Development Group (TDG) for next season was also announced today, with 49 names included in the squad.

For the first time this year, the U18s group took part in two fixtures against their Canadian counterparts.

Divisional Talent Development Officer and TDG Programme Lead Alex Austerberry said: “The TDG programme has a strong history of developing players. We aim to help them understand the demands of the game, developing all areas, on and off the field. We want to develop future senior players who are not only confident and competent, but have the skills required to flourish on the international stage.”

Of the 2015-16 National Talent Development Group, 12 players have been selected in to the England U20 squad for the forthcoming season.

Among others, Poppy Leitch, Sydney Gregson and Lotte Clapp have recently moved from the TDG programme to gain international honours, while sevens player and Olympic hopeful Abbie Brown is another who has gone on to represent England in both the 15 and seven-a-side formats.

Yapp added: “With the Olympics this summer followed by the World Cup in Ireland next year, this is a hugely exciting time for women’s rugby. World Cup winners and Olympic hopefuls Emily Scarratt, Kay Wilson, Natasha Hunt, Marlie Packer, Amber Reed, Vicky Fleetwood and Alex Mathews were all part of the player pathway that included the U20 and TDG programmes.”

FIXTURES

England Women U20 v Canada Women U20 games at Nottingham Trent College
1st test: Thursday 18 August, KO tbc
2nd test: Monday 22 August, KO tb
3rd test: Friday 26 August, KO tbc
ENGLAND WOMEN U20 SQUAD 2016/17
(Name (Club, University/AASE)
Holly Aitchison (Lichfield, Hartpury College)
Zoe Aldcroft (DMP, Northumbria University)
Lucy Attwood (Olney)*
Harriet Austin (Saracens)*
Leah Bartlett (Loughborough, Loughborough College)*
Sarah Bern (Bristol, University of Gloucestershire)
Jess Breach (Pulborough)
Taz Bricknell (Bristol, Hartpury College)*
Abbie Dow (Wasps)
Morgan Freeman (Beckenham)*
Ellie Gilbert (Exeter Saracens, Hartpury College)*
Zoe Harrison (Welwyn, Hartpury College)
Poppy Leitch (Bristol, University of Exeter)
Ella Levy (Saracens, Kingston University)*
Chantelle Miell (Bristol, University of Bath)
Molly Morrissey (Lichfield, University of the West of England)
Rosanna Moynihan (Welwyn, Hartpury College)*
Ellie Mulhearn (Cleve)*
Ellena Perry (Welwyn, Hartpury College)
Michaella Roberts (Camborne)*
Sally Stott (Vale of Lune, Edinburgh University)
Sophie Tandy (Basingstoke)
Linzi Taylor (DMP, Northumbria University)
Laura Tolley (Aylesford Bulls)*
Lagilagi Tuima (Devonport Services)*
Emma Uren (Esher)
Hannah West (Wasps, Brunel University)
Charlie Wilcock (Waterloo, Bishop Burton)*
Anna Wolf (DMP, Northumbria University)
Rachael Woosey (DMP, Bishop Burton)
Ella Wyras (Welwyn, Hartpury College)*

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