England U18 selection for Centre of Excellence duo

The match is the last of the Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival, which is being hosted by England for the first time, and sees the tournament’s two undefeated sides clash for 70 minutes.

Sophie McQueen will captain England from open-side flanker, where she’ll be joined in the back row by Lucy Finch (blind-side flanker) and Annabel Meta (No. 8).

Lucy Calladine has been named at hooker, and Hannah Sams and Amelia Williams are the starting props. Josie Plant and Bridgett Campbell will pack behind them.

Millie Hyett and Amelia MacDougall will wear the 10 and 12 shirts respectively, playing outside scrum half Evie Haskell.

Sarah Parry lines up at outside centre with Connie Clarke and Daisy Aspinall on the wings, while Lauren Bailey has been named at full back.

Lucy Simpson, Lucy Ward, Ala Lutui, Ellie Wood, Anna Richardson, Fran Clarke, Ella Cromack and Millie David are the replacements.

Admission to the festival is free, while fans unable to attend will be able to watch every fixture live via theSix Nations Rugby digital channels.

Cooper said: “I’m proud of the way the girls have played every time they’ve worn the rose throughout the Six Nations Festival. While we’ve selected a side to face France in our final fixture that we think gives us the best chance to win, this has been a whole of squad effort that’s got us to this point in the tournament, and we could’ve confidently chosen any one of them to pull on England jersey tomorrow.

“France played with flair in their wins over Scotland and Wales on Tuesday, and against Ireland and Italy before that. We know we’ll have to play hard tomorrow to match their strength, but our girls have prepared well throughout the week off the back of our own pleasing performances.

“Over the course of the last week, the players have grown immensely on and off the field in a high-performance international environment. Their development as individuals and as a team has seen them represent their clubs, colleges and schools, academies, Centres of Excellence, families and country well.

“This final match to close out the tournament is a wonderful opportunity for the players to run out onto the pitch in front of what we hope will be a big crowd.”

England women’s U18 v France U18

15. Lauren Bailey (Dings Crusaders, Bristol Bears)
14. Connie Clarke (Preston Grasshoppers, Sale)
13. Sarah Parry (Shrewsbury, Worcester)
12. Amelia MacDougall (Old Albanians, Saracens)
11. Daisy Aspinall (Burton, Gloucester Hartpury)
10. Millie Hyett (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury)
9. Evie Haskell (Mansfield, Loughborough)
1. Amelia Williams (Medway, Gloucester Hartpury)
2. Lucy Calladine (Burton, Worcester)
3. Hannah Sams (Ivybridge, Exeter)
4. Josie Plant (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter)
5. Bridget Campbell (Sandal, Yorkshire)
6. Lucy Finch (Henley College, Harlequins)
7. Sophie McQueen (C; Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury)
8. Annabel Meta (Wimbledon, Harlequins)

Replacements

16. Lucy Simpson (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury)
17. Lucy Ward (Exeter College, Exeter)
18. Haineala Lutui (Worcester, Worcester)
19. Ellie Wood (Sidmouth, Exeter)
20. Anna Richardson (Tynedale, North East and Cumbria)
21. Fran Clarke (SGS Filton College, Bristol Bears)
22. Ella Cromack (Reading, Wasps)
23. Millie David (Reading, Wasps)