England U20s unveil future stars

Amy Cokayne (Lichfield) - new face in the England U20 squad

England will be preparing to run out at Twickenham for a crucial Women's Six Nations tie against Ireland on Saturday evening, but the thoughts of many of the management team during the afternoon may stray to events taking place a few miles to the south.

At 2pm England U20s run out at Esher on Saturday for their return game against France in a fixture that England in which have not done well in recent years - they have lost the last seven, and have only ever beaten France once in age group rugby.

However its not really results that matter in age group rugby, its more about looking for the stars of the future. And one name appearing on an England roster for the first time this weekend brings with her an interesting back story.

The name is Amy Cokayne, and she has just turned 18. This Hartpury College and Lichfield back row was not in the England U20 squad announced in the autumn, and she has played little senior rugby in England. So why has she been fast-tracked into the team for Saturday?

Although born in England, Amy's family moved to New Zealand when she was ten. Her rugby began in England when she was five, but has come on hugely during her secondary school years. She became captain of her school, Fielding High School, and lead them to 53 wins in 53 matches in 2012, and - needless to say - a national championship. Following that she was selected to play for the adult Manawatu side in the NPC at the age of 16.

She more than justified the selection, scoring a hat-full of tries for her province in her two seasons at both fifteens and sevens, capturing headlines, and - as one of the rising stars of Kiwi rugby - an invitation to join the Black Ferns training camp in 2013.

But since he age of 10 she always dreamt of playing for England, and when the chance to move back to England for her higher education, she took it.

The English management are wisely easing Amy into the system gently. Little or no fuss is being made, and she has been named on the bench for her first international.

Amy is not the only debutant - Lichfield clubmate Sarah Nichols should also win her first cap - and coach Amanda Bennett has made other changes to the starting XV, calling up Lichfield’s Emma Harbage, Bristol’s Devon Holt and Loughborough’s Scarlet Cooper-Wall from the bench, while Worcester’s Emily Wood switches to the right wing. Worcester lock Courtney Gill will captain the side.

“We learned from the first game in Beauvais and we're expecting players who faced France last time to take this on board,” added Bennett. “The Under 20 programme is about player development and there is no better opportunity to show progress than to face the same opposition again within three weeks.

“We certainly hope we can to close the gap on France this time around. One of the biggest lessons learned was the cost of individual errors and how few opportunities teams get at this level. Changes in one or two key areas can make a big difference on the day.”

England Women Under 20

15 Sydney Gregson (Welwyn, Hertfordshire, London & South East, Hartpury College)14 Emily Wood (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West, Hartpury College)13 Abigail Brown (Worcester, Devon, South West)12 Lauren Chenoweth (Worcester, Cornwall, South West)11 Emma Harbage (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)10 Megan Goddard  (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)9 Devon Holt (Bristol, Berkshire, South West)

1 Abbie Parsons (Bristol, Berkshire, South West)2 Lark Davies (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands)3 Scarlett Cooper-Wall (Loughborough, Hertfordshire, South West)4 Amy Wigley (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands, Hartpury College)5 Courtney Gill (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West, captain)6 Francesca  Hall (Richmond, Hampshire, London & South East)7 Lucie Wood (Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West)8 Jo Brown (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Durham, North)

Replacements

16 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, Midlands)17 Catherine Pugh (Lichfield, Essex, London & South East)18 Henrietta  Burkinshaw (Lichfield, Yorkshire, North)19 Katie Turnbull (Bristol, South West)20 Rebecca Trist (Worcester, South West)21 Bianca Blackburn (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)22 Sarah Nicholas (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands23 Rosemary Kells (Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West)

France U20sfrom:

ALAUX Axelle (Fonsorbes)ANNERY Julie (Bobigny)AURIOL Léna (Saint Orens)BERTRAND Coralie (RC Velleronais)BOBO Laetitia (Montpellier)BOUDAUD Camille (Stade Rennais Rugby)BOUJARD Caroline (Chilly Mazarin)CLAVE CHASTANG Pia (Limoges)DUBERTRAND Meryl (RC Lons)IMART Camille (Saint Orens)KEREMBELLEC Marina (Stade Bordelais)LABORIE Laurie (Fonsorbes)MAQUART Cyrielle (Lille MRCV)MATHIEU Emilie (Sassenage)MENETRIER Laura (Sassenage)OKEMBA Grace Séraphine (Stade Rennais Rugby)PEGOT Prune (Fonsorbes)PLACINES Chloe (Saint Orens)REMDANA Jasmine (Gennevilliers)SALUZZO Marie (Chilly Mazarin)SOCHAT Agathe (Stade Bordelais)TRAORE Mailys (Fonsorbes)VERGNAUD Justine (Stade Rennais Rugby)