Six Loughborough Lightning players be been selected in England Women’s Pathway matchday squad for their 2024 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series opener against Ireland.
Lilli Ives Campions captains from second row on the occasion of her seventh cap at this level, while Lia Green, Carmela Morrall and Lucy Calladine start at fullback, inside centre and hooker respectively.
Lightning pair Amelia Williams and Ellie Roberts are selected amongst the replacements for Thursday’s clash in Parma (kick-off: 5.30pm BST).
Catherine Wells, who was also selected for the squad for the tournament, has unfortunately been ruled out due to a knee injury.
Fellow Lightning player Luca Linn has been selected at outside centre for Ireland.
The Women’s Summer Series is intended to offer players a vital new opportunity to graduate through the rugby development pathway, from the U18 level. For those players who may have missed the U18 entry point onto the rugby pathway, the Women’s Summer Series opens up another route to international rugby.
In June, the England Women’s Pathway prepared for the first Women’s Summer Series with an opposed training session against Ireland hosted at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.
Following Thursday’s opening matchday, England will face Wales (9 July, kick-off: 8.00pm BST) and France (14 July, kick-off: 8:00pm BST) at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, with all fixtures available to view live on the England Rugby YouTube channel.
Head coach LJ Lewis said: “Our recent session at Bisham Abbey gave us a good flavour of the competitiveness we know from Ireland, which we only expect to naturally be raised to match the occasion this Thursday.
“That said, as a group we’re determined to prove ourselves at this level and make sure the first Women’s Summer Series tournament will be one to remember for our pathway. The next few weeks are the time for growth and opportunity for the players, coaches and staff of women’s pathway rugby in Europe.
“We’ve learnt a great deal about ourselves and our processes in recent months with good Tests against Army Women, Wales and France too. We’re conscious we have to remain focused and still raise our levels on the biggest stage.”
ENGLAND WOMEN’S PATHWAY TEAM TO FACE IRELAND
15 Lia Green (Loughborough Lightning, Winscombe RFC, 3 caps)
14 Sophie Hopkins (Sale Sharks, Fullerians RFC, 2 caps)
13 Millie Hyett (Gloucester-Hartpury, Worcester Girls RFC, 3 caps)
12 Carmela Morrall (Loughborough Lightning, Dubai Hurricanes, 3 caps)
11 Reneeqa Bonner (Bristol Bears, Clevedon Rugby Club, 4 caps)
10 Amelia MacDougall (Saracens, Old Albanian RFC, 3 caps)
9 Tori Sellors (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, 6 caps)
1 Chloe Flanagan (Saracens, Old Albanian RFC, 3 caps)
2 Lucy Calladine (Loughborough Lightning, Burton Rugby Football Club, 3 caps)
3 Hannah Sams (Exeter Chiefs, Kingsbridge RFC, 3 caps)
4 Tyla Shirley (Harlequins, Hove Rugby Club, 2 caps)
5 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, Telford Hornets RFC, 6 caps) - captain
6 Anna Richardson (Exeter University, Tynedale RFC, Uncapped)
7 Joia Bennett (Saracens, Old Albanian RFC, 3 caps)
8 Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, Wimbledon RFC, 1 cap)
Replacements
16 Niamh Swailes (Sale Sharks, Ryton RUFC, 5 caps)
17 Amelia Williams (Loughborough Lightning, Medway Rugby Football Club, 3 caps)
18 Kira Leat (Trailfinders Women, Havant RFC, Uncapped)
19 Jorja Battishill (Gloucester-Hartpury, Gloucester-Hartpury, 3 caps)
20 Ellie Roberts (Loughborough Lightning, Basingstoke RFC, 3 caps)
21 Alex Wilkinson (Henley Hawks, Henley Hawks, 3 caps)
22 Samantha Shiels (Trailfinders Women, Grasshoppers RFC, 1 cap)
23 Millie David (Bristol Bears, Reading Rugby Football Club, 3 caps)
England’s Six Nations Women’s Summer Series fixtures
- 4 July 2024 – England vs. Ireland (kick-off: 17:30 BST)
- 9 July 2024 – Wales vs. England (kick-off: 8.00pm BST)
- 14 July 2024 – England vs. France (kick-off: 8.00pm BST)
