Five Valkyries in action for England Under 20s

Valkyries players Brooke Bradley, Cara Brincat (pictured), Akina Gondwe, Vicky Laflin and Charlie Wilcock have all been named in the England Women Under 20s squad for their clash with USA on Tuesday.

Gondwe and Brincat will start in the forward pack, while Bradley, Wilcock and Laflin have been named on the bench, with the latter hoping to make her England Under 20s debut.

The match comes four days after England beat Canada 36-22 in the opening game of their three-game tour.

England Women Under 20s coach Jo Yapp said: “We were really pleased with the result against Canada, who pushed us to the final whistle. The players have reviewed the game and have been working hard to develop the areas highlighted to work on.

“We have a squad of 26 out here and a tight turnaround between the three games. This game will give us an opportunity to develop the squad and we look forward to seeing new combinations. Vicky and Jessica also come into the squad to make their debut for the Under 20s.

“The USA had a strong opening game against Canada and we are expecting a really physical encounter. They’ve had longer since their opening game but we are pleased with how our squad have recovered.

“This short turnaround of games is great preparation for players moving into senior rugby where the tournament schedules will be really demanding.”

USA Under 20s were defeated 36-12 by Canada last Tuesday. They last played England in the 2013 Nations Cup, where they recorded a 27-17 victory.

The match kicks off at 10.30 BST and is available to watch online on the Rugby Canada website.

England Women U20s

15 Lagilagi Tuima (Bristol Bears Women/Exeter University)
14 Lilian Stoeger-Goddard (Bristol Bears Women/Plymouth Marjons University)
13 Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears Women/Bristol University) (C)
12 Lucy Attwood (Bristol Bears Women/Bristol University)
11 Abigail Dow (Wasps Ladies/Imperial College London)
10 Ellie Green (Harlequins Ladies/N/A)
9 Ella Wyrwas (Saracens Women/N/A)
1 Akina Gondwe (Worcester Valkyries/Worcester University)
2 Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury Women/Hartpury College)
3 Ellie Mulhearn (Bristol Bears Women/N/A)
4 Rianna Manson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks/York St. John University)
5 Hollie Cunningham (Bristol Bears Women/Exeter University)
6 Cara Brincat (Worcester Valkyries/Worcester University)
7 Amelia Harper (Loughborough Lightning/Loughborough College)
8 Sarah Beckett (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/N/A)

Replacements
16 Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning/Loughborough University)
17 Ellena Perry (Saracens Women/Coventry University)
18 Detysha Harper (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/N/A)
19 Rosie Galligan (Saracens Women/Loughborough University)
20 Charlie Wilcock (Worcester Valkyries/N/A)
21 Brooke Bradley (Worcester Valkyries/Exmouth Community College)
22 Victoria Laflin (Worcester Valkyries/Worcester University)
23 Jessica Cooksey (Winscombe /Hartpury College)

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