Seven Loughborough Lightning players have been named in the England U20 squad to take on Scotland in the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series this weekend.
Tightwad prop Grace Clifford makes her return to action after a lengthy period out of action to earn her fourth cap at U20 level as one of the U23 players permitted to play in Saturday’s clash in Caerphilly (kick-off: 6pm) – which will be streamed live on the Six Nations U20 YouTube channel
She is partnered at loosehead prop by Lightning team-mate Amelia Williams, while Lucy Finch will pack down behind them in the second row as one of three Lightning U20 debutants.
The others are scrum-half Ashton Adcock and left winger Molly Luthayi, while Lia Green earns her seventh gap from fullback – the same number hooker Lucy Calladine will move to when she features as a replacement.
England’s Summer Series fixtures continue against Italy next Friday 11 July before concluding their campaign against France at CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence at Ystrad Mynach.
Head coach LJ Lewis said: “Our players want to prove themselves in this exciting competition this year. With many new faces mixed with our capped players, we have a fantastic blend in our squad that is eager to impress.
“In the coming weeks, we want to evolve as a squad with improvement every matchday. It’s testament to that determination within our player pool that we have the number of uncapped players wanting to succeed and wear the Rose with pride.
“Scotland will be a challenging opening fixture for us, but we want to embrace that challenge with a courageous approach from the outset.”
A Lightning player is set to feature for the opposition too as Freya MacColl is in-line to make her Scotland U20 debut as a replacement.
England U20 Women’s squad to face Scotland
CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence in Caerphilly, Wales
Saturday 5 July, 2025
Kick-off: 6pm
15 Lia Green (Loughborough Lightning, Winscombe RFC, 6 caps)
14 Sophie Hopkins (Sale Sharks, Fullerians RFC, 4 caps)
13 Millie Hyett (c) (Gloucester-Hartpury, Evesham RFC, 6 caps)
12 Molly Bunker (Gloucester-Hartpury, Havant RFC, uncapped)
11 Molly Luthayi (Loughborough Lightning, Kettering Rugby, uncapped)
10 Amelia MacDougall (Saracens, Old Albanian RFC, 5 caps)
9 Ashton Adcock (Becky Essex PDG, Loughborough College, Tamworth, uncapped)
1 Amelia Williams (Loughborough Lightning, Medway RFC, 7 caps)
2 Lucy Simpson (Gloucester-Hartpury, Rams RFC, uncapped)
3 Grace Clifford (Loughborough Lightning, Horsham Rugby Club, 3 caps)
4 Tyla Shirley (Harlequins, Hove RFC, 5 caps)
5 Lucy Finch (Loughborough Lightning, Newbury RFC, uncapped)
6 Maddy Page (Harlequins, Buckingham RFC, uncapped)
7 Joia Bennett (Saracens, Old Albanian RFC, 6 caps)
8 Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, Wimbledon RFC, 3 caps)
Replacements:
16 Lucy Calladine (Loughborough Lightning, Burton Rugby Football Club, 6 caps)
17 Chloe Flanagan (Saracens, Ampthill RUFC, 7 caps)
18 Lilly Plowman (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, uncapped)
19 Jasmine Adonri (Trailfinders Women, Dartford Valley Rugby Club, uncapped)
20 Sophie McQueen (Gloucester-Hartpury, Chippenham RFC, uncapped)
21 Poppy Love (Trailfinders Women, Grasshoppers RFC, uncapped)
22 Ella Cromack (Harlequins, Reading RFC, 4 caps)
23 Millie David (Bristol Bears, Reading RFC, 5 caps)
Scotland U20 Women’s squad to face England
15 Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh / Glasgow Warriors)
14 Emily Norval (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors)
13 Holly McIntyre (c) (University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh Rugby)
12 Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh Rugby)
11 Lisa Brown (University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh Rugby)
10 Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County RFC / Glasgow Warriors)
9 Rianna Darroch (Hillhead Jordanhill / Glasgow Warriors)
1 Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh / Glasgow Warriors)
2 Aicha Sutcliffe (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors)
3 Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors)
4 Charlotte Russell – (Watsonian FC / Edinburgh Rugby)
5 Aisha Zameer (Hillhead Jordanhill / Glasgow Warriors)
6 Lily Crisp (Loughborough University)
7. Isobel Twigger (Brunel University / Trailfinders Women)
8. Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars / Edinburgh Rugby)
Replacements
16 Megan Hyland (Garioch / Glasgow Warriors)
17 Kaylee McHugh (Thurrock RFC)
18 Faye Sutherland (Corstorphine Cougars / Edinburgh Rugby)
19. Holly Wilson (Biggar RFC)
20 Gemma Thomson (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors)
21 Rebekah Douglas (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors)
22 Poppy Mellanby (Biggar RFC / Glasgow Warriors)
23 Freya MacColl (Loughborough University / Loughborough Lightning)
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