Exeter eight get the call-up to England Students

Exeter Chiefs Women and the University of Exeter have provided eight players for the re-established England Students squad.

Naomi Brennan, Danielle Preece, Hannah Sams, Alessia Skeates and Anna Woodman, have been selected to start against UKAF Women, which consists of players from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. 

Meanwhile, new Chiefs and Hartpury University graduates Zoe Dare and Lola Whitley have also been called up for international duty too.

Former Chiefs Women's squad member and currently University of Exeter student Connie Clarke will also feature.

The England Students’ programme has been restarted this year after a 20-year hiatus in line with the continuing growth of women’s rugby nationally and internationally.

Led by head coach Andrew Ford, the Students’ Rugby Football Union side will also be coached by Exeter Chiefs U23s coach and club centurion, Poppy Leitch.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin said: “It’s fantastic to see the England Students programme up and running again, and great that Poppy is involved. She’s an experienced coach and a very dedicated mentor for younger players to look up to. Her influence means we have six players from the University selected for this game. With Zoe and Lola picked too, our players make up a third of the squad and that makes me, and the rest of the club, very proud.”

The game will take place on Friday, August 8 (KO 18:30), at the Army Rugby Stadium in Aldershot.

England Students team to play UKAF Women

Megan Barwick (Brunel University of London)

Connie Clarke (University of Exeter)

Ellen Scantlebury (University of Loughborough)

Grace White (Brunel University of London)

Naomi Brennan (University of Exeter)

Charli-Mai Manns (Hartpury University)

Mathilda Ryall (Hartpury University)

Lucy Weaver (University of Loughborough)

Amy Dale (Hartpury University)

Natalia Faik (Brunel University of London)

Alessia Skeates (University of Exeter)

Jodie Verghese (University of Loughborough)

Lola Whitley (Hartpury University)

Zoe Dare (Hartpury University)

Anna Woodman (University of Exeter)

Eloise Harris (University of Worcester)

Stephanie Atkinson (University of Loughborough)

Hannah Sams (University of Exeter)

Eryn Sinckler-Bermingham (Hartpury University)

Danielle Preece (University of Exeter)

Isobel McGuire-Evans (University of Worcester)

Jorja Battishill (Hartpury University)

Tilly Smale (Hartpury University)