England Women U20s to take on the USA, Canada and Wales in Nations Cup
England Women Under 20s will take on Wales, the USA and Canada as they bid to retain their Under 20s Nations Cup crown this summer.
The reigning Nations Cup champions will have home advantage on their side with the tournament being staged at Brunel University from July 9th - 18th.
The USA are new entrants to the tournament this year and they will open their championship campaign against Wales on July 9th. England meanwhile will take on Canada, a side they defeated twice last season, on the same day.
Nicola Ponsford, the RFUW's Head of Performance, said: "The U20 Nations Cup represents a fantastic opportunity for the players to play against the best U20 teams in the world and to put into practice all the skills they have been working on during the season.
"The tournament introduces players to the pressures of international rugby in a format that replicates the World Cup so coaches have the opportunity to see which players thrive in this arena. There will be no easy games so players will have to stand up and be counted throughout the tournament."
Ponsford added: "The U20s programme has developed a number of key players that have made the step up to senior rugby, including Emily Scarratt. Emily competed for the U20s in this tournament last year and has since gone on to score nine tries in eight games for England seniors."
Under 20s Nations Cup playing schedule:
July 9th Wales vs. USA 5pm Canada vs. England 7pm
July 12th
Canada vs. Wales, 130pm England vs. USA, 330pm
July 15th Canada vs. USA, 5pm England vs. Wales, 7pm
July 18th
Consolation Finals, 130pm Final, 330pm
England U20s squad 2008/2009
Sasha Acheson Sudbury Prop Samantha Bree Worcester Wing Alex Cook Bath Outside Centre Victoria Cornborough Richmond Prop Kimberley Davey Richmond Fullback Hannah Field Reading Openside Flanker Victoria Fleetwood Lichfield Hooker Jessie Flowers West Park Scrum Half Rose Fong Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Outside Centre Claire Garner Leo Ladies Fly Half Sarah Graham Richmond Inside Centre Joanna Hart Camp Hill Outside Centre Lizell Heather Kettering Wing Nicola Hoole Bath Blindside Flanker Natasha Hunt Bath Wing Natasha Jones Lichfield Fly Half Ceri Large Drybrook Fly Half Garnet Mackinder Exeter Saracens Wing Charlotte Male Plymouth Albion Prop Natalie McClarnon Saracens Hooker Sarah McKenna Old Albanian Saints Inside Centre Amy Millar Reading Second Row Harriet Mills Manchester Number 8 Davinia Monteiro Bath Hooker Marlie Packer Bath Openside Flanker Elizabeth Peak Dorchester Prop Amy Phillips Aylstone St James Number 8 Bridgid Reeves Leo Ladies Blindside Flanker Gemma Rowland Exeter University Outside Centre Sophie Russell Loughborough Scrum Half Juliet Short Darlington Mowden Park Sharks Second Row Hannah Walker-Smart Paviours Scrum Half Charlotte Wild Leeds Metropolitan Second Row Megan Williams Welwyn Fullback
