England Academy Coach Gary Street has today confirmed the names of those to be involved in the Academy and Under 19s matches for the forthcoming season.

Following the successful recent Super 4s competition 25 girls have been selected for the Academy with a further 24 chosen for the Under 19s squad.

Commenting on selection, Street said:

“We have again been very impressed with the standard of rugby played throughout the Super 4s. Selection has been difficult and the group of girls that have made it into both development squads should be extremely excited about the opportunity they now have.

“In recent years the role of the Academy has demonstrated its worth and the last 12 months is further evidence of how important it is to the development of women’s and girls rugby in England. Of last year’s Academy squad ten of the girls have made the step up to the elite squad of 44 and I am convinced that this group has the same potential.”

The girls selected for this years England Academy squad have an average age of just 19, with the Under 19s in fact averaging less than 18 years.

The full squads are as follows:

Academy:

Claire Allan (Wasps), Jenny Allum, Natalie Binstead (Wasps), Leah Carey (Lichfield), Sam Dale (Earlsdon), Hannah Dawson (Thirsk), Emma Dresser (Lichfield), Becky Essex (Worcester), Natasha Fitt (Saracens), Libby Fox (Clifton), Sonia Green (Saracens), Sophie Hemming (Clifton), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), Danni Knight (Lichfield), Emma Layland (Richmond), Alice Lovett (Lichfield), Lois Moulding  (Worcester), Gemma Paul (Lichfield), Amber Penrith, Alice Richardson (both Worcester), Georgina Roberts (Avon), Louisa Seymour (Saracens), Harriet Slynn (Waterloo), Ellen Small (Waterloo), Joanne Watmore (Thirsk)

Under 19s:

Sara Anastasi, Charlotte Beaman, Abi Blackburn, Saskia Brazer kobus, Helen Clewer, Ruth Clewer, Sam Cornborough, Roz Crowley, Lucy Farmer, Rachel Finnan, Kate Hall, Stacy Hollier, Kayleigh Hutchinson, Laura Keates, Tina Lee, Rosie Mangle, Abby Mobray, Ollie Poore, Emily Price, Nicole Roche, Georgina Rozario, Hannah Shield, Lorna Smith, Kellie Wallis

In addition the following girls have been invited to attend training with the Under 19s squad in December: Nicki Buckingham, Rachael Mobray, Jessica Morgan, Meg Youdan

The Academy plays their first match away to Ireland in January whilst the Under 19s will be involved in the game against Holland in February.