Firth and Hall to start for England U18s

Exeter College’s Izzy Firth (above) and Beth Hall (below) have been selected to start for England U18s to face Wales U18s in the opening round of the Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival.

Lucie Sams and Rowan Turney have also been selected on the bench following friendlies against Hartpury College and Ireland U18s.

Head coach James Cooper said: “Two good warm-up wins have put us in a strong place, but a tournament environment brings different mental challenges that we must be ready to meet with real courage and clarity.

“This week is about bonding as a group, trusting each other under pressure and then embracing that intensity that comes with representing our pathway.

“We want our squad to play fast and exciting rugby by being brave in their decision making and showing the ambition that defines England teams at their best.”

The game against Wales will be played at Wellington College on Thursday (KO 16:30 BST).

They will then play Scotland (KO 12:00) and Ireland (KO 13:00) in two 35-minute games next Monday.

England U18 Women

15 Izzy Firth (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter, 2 caps)

14 Alice Fleming (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, 1 cap)

13 Meghan Crilly (c) (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough, 1 cap)

12 Scarlett Beech (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, 1 cap)

11 Lily Pereira dos Santos (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, 6 caps)

10 Beth Hall (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter, 1 cap)

9 Summer Smith (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, City of Oxford, 1 cap)

1 Isabella Lyndon (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, 1 cap)

2 Mali Hill (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, 1 cap)

3 Eva Larkai (Rachael Burford PDG, Worthing, 1 cap)

4 Holly Bagnowiec (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, 1 cap)

5 Charlie Williams (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, 1 cap)

6 Hannah Foley (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, City of Oxford, 1 cap)

7 Evie Collingbourne (Rachael Burford PDG, Worthing, 1 cap)

8 Christal Koroiyadi (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough, 1 cap)

Replacements:

16 Maisie Trotman (Emma Mitchell PDG, Worthing, 1 cap)

17 Lucie Sams (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter, 1 cap)

18 Lotte Peirsegaele (Emma Mitchell PDG, City of Oxford, uncapped)

19 Leila Crick (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, 1 cap)

20 Rowan Turney (Rachael Burford PDG, Exeter College, 1 cap)

21 Amelia Rockley (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, 1 cap)

22 Alix Ahad (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, 1 cap)

23 Rosalyn Civil (Jo Yapp PDG, Hartpury, 1 cap)

24 Charlotte Brookes (Rachael Burford PDG, 5 caps)

25 Martha Hallam (Karen Almond PDG, Loughborough, 1 cap)

26 Millie Walker (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough, 1 cap)

27 Jemima Mitchell (Maggie Alphonsi PDG, Oaklands, 1 cap)