Bennett handed U20 role

Bennett, who presided over a four year unbeaten run when she was head coach at Saracens for a decade, has been capped for Wales and Great Britain.

Bennett is joined by ex-Northampton, Bedford and London Welsh lock Steve Halsey as Assistant Coach and a squad of 26 has been picked for the season where the U20s will play three internationals early in the year before travelling to the Nations Cup in the US next summer.

Eight of the squad are players who were involved in the U20s campaign last season. There are also six players from the RFUWs Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) included.

The England U20s will play France on February 27th as part of Super Sunday, which sees Womens Rugby World Cup finalists, England, and the England Under 20s men in action at Worcesters Sixways Stadium. England U20s will also play Scotland in March and compete in the U20s Nations Cup next summer.

Tom Stokes, the RFUWs Player Development Manager, said: There is a lot of talent and more importantly a huge amount of potential amongst this group of players. We are all looking forward to working with them over an exciting and challenging training and playing programme this season.

The selection of three U20s players from last season into the Senior England Elite Squad along with a number of former U20s players who have progressed into the Senior Squad this season, demonstrates the important function the U20s programme plays in the development of the players. However for this group of players, the hard work starts now. This is just another step on their journey to becoming world class players and representing the senior England squad in the future.

This year's crop of U20s can be inspired by the fact that nine of this year'sEngland elite squadpreviosuly played for their country at this level.

Next week we have an extensive interview with Bennett who is also Head of Policy for UK Sport. She tells us about participation levels in sport in the UK, the impact of the World Cup and what it takes to be a successful coach.

England Women Under 20s Squad

Kayleigh Callaway-Bawden Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees)

Poppy Cleall Bristol

Fiona Davidson Richmond

Louise Dennis Worcester

Lucy Demaine University of Exeter

Fiona Fletcher Lichfield

Mica EvansExeter Saracens

Hannah Gallagher Saracens

Ellie Gattlin Rochford Hundred

SarahGeorge University of Exeter

Rebecca Hughes Bristol

Natasha JonesLichfield

Charlotte Keane Worcester

Emily Kingston Gloucester

Ceri Large Worcester

Katie Mason Bristol

Alex Matthews London Irish

Harriet Mills Lichfield

Charlie Notman Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees)

Megan OatenThornbury

Amber Reed Bristol

Rachel Roberts Gloucester

Abbie Scott Keswick

Emily Scott Thurrock

Geri Thomas Old Abanian Saints

Amy Wilson-Hardy Hove