England U20s captain Fiona Davidson

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The England Under 20s side will be led by the experienced Richmond scrum-half Fiona Davidson who will start her third year in the U20s squad. Lichfield flanker Fiona Fletcher has been named as vice-captain.

Davidson will lead an U20s side which sees 12 players in the 22 set to make their England U20s bow. Four players; Rachael Jones, Amy Needham, Carys Williams and Megan Goddard have been called up to the squad after impressing in the RFUW Divisional Programme after initially missing out on selection into the 2011/2012 Under 20s squad.

Amanda Bennett, who is joined by assistant coach Steve Halsey again this season, said:  “It is so exciting to see such talent in young players. Although this is a relatively inexperienced squad, we will look to the likes of new players Lauren Cattell and Rachel Jones for big performances just as much as Captain Fiona Davidson, who brings vast experience. Nurturing young talent is rewarding, and this year’s squad has the potential to play some great rugby.

“We have had a relative luxury of a series of training camps which have allowed the squad to grow together and also for us to work hard on team development, game strategy and of course, continuing to build on the core skills.”

England will also take on France on April 4^th and 7^th at Moulton College as well as host the USA in a two test series in July at the same venue, and they’ll be looking to build on the success of last season which saw England defeat Canada, the USA, France, Wales, Scotland and South Africa, completing a clean sweep of international victories.

Bennett added: “There aren’t many teams who would choose to play three tests against France in a season as they are such a tough side. However, these games present an opportunity for the England squad to learn from one game to the next and benchmark improvements in performances against high quality opposition. We will be looking for pre-determined goals to be met by the third game and for individual players, as well as the whole squad, to improve in designated areas.

“We have played France twice in the last two years and are all square when it comes to results. We lost in 2010 but genuinely feel our preparations this year are more comprehensive and players have an excellent understanding of what is expected of them, regardless of the environment.”

England Women U20s

(Name, Club, County, Division, Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence College)

15        Georgia          Peedle           (Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East)

14        Rachel           Jones(Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)

13        Hannah         Edwards        (Wasps, Middlesex,London & South East)       

12        Louise            Dennis           (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)

11        Rebecca        Hughes (Bristol, Somerset,            South West) 

10        Lauren Cattell (Chesham, Buckinghamshire, South West, Moulton College)

9          Fiona  Davidson       (Richmond, Surrey,             London & South East) Captain    

1          Mica    Evans(Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East)         

2          Emily  Hatherall        (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)         

3          Catherine      Pugh  (Rochford Hundred,            Essex, London & South East)      

4          Ellen   Gattlin            (Saracens, Essex, London & South East)         

5          Abbie  Scott   (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks,           Northumberland, North)   

6          Fiona  Fletcher (Lichfield, Staffordshire,             Midlands) Vice-Captain     

7          Megan            Oaten(Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West)    

8          Katie   Turnbull (Thornbury, Gloucestershire, South West, Hartpury College)

Replacements:        

16        Charlotte        Notman          (Penryn, Cornwall, South West)  

17        Amy    Needham (Paviors, Notts, Lincs & Derbys, Midlands, Moulton College)

18        Courtney       Gill      (Plymouth Albion, Devon, South West, Hartpury College)

19        Carys  Williams         (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands, Moulton College)

20        Bianca Blackburn (Gloucester, Gloucestershire, South West, Hartpury College)

21        Megan Goddard (Hartpury, Gloucestershire, South West, Hartpury College)

22        Sian    McGuinness(Tyldesley, Lancashire, North)

England Under 20s 2011/2012 Fixtures:

March 11^th, France U20s v England U20s, Suzan Lenglen Stadium, Paris, KO 930am GMT

April 4^th, England U20s v France U20s, Moulton College, KO 230pm

April 7^th,  England U20s v France U20s, Moulton College, KO 1pm

July, Dates TBC, England U20s will play the USA in two test matches, Moulton College