Under 18s Womenâ€™s Talent Development Group for 2008/09 named

36 Under 18 female rugby players from across the country have been selected for the Rugby Football Union for Women’s 2008/09 Talent Development Group (TDG).

Players selected for the TDG come from as far and wide as Plymouth to Manchester.

Following selection from four regional High Performance Academies, 55 under 18s players were invited to attend the National Talent Development Group trials at a three day camp in July at Hartpury College, Gloucester.

Players took part in an intensive programme of nutritional workshops, strength and conditioning education, fitness testing, and rugby coaching sessions over the three days. Following the camp, the final 36 players were selected for the TDG.

Tom Stokes, the RFUW’s Player Development Manager, said: “The TDG, in its third year, is a programme designed to provide the very best Under 18s players with a thorough, planned and progressive individual player development programme. The group provides a step up from county and regional rugby and aims to raise the standard of England representative players and squads for future years.”

The 36 selected players will attend another TDG camp in August as well as national and local sessions over the season. They will receive core rugby skill development, game understanding, strength and conditioning education and development, nutritional advice, sports psychology, performance lifestyle, online training diaries and training kit.

TDG Players

Kim Barber Plymouth Albion

Sarah Batley Leeds Leos

Alexandra Chamberlain Esher

Poppy Cleall Ellingham and Wimbourne

Fiona Davidson South West Surrey Cluster

Catherine Davidson Thornbury

Lucy Demaine Liskeard & Looe

Hannah Edwards Reading

Alex Finch Worthing

Fiona Fletcher Tamworth RFC

Jessie Flowers Leonidas