Seven Loughborough Lightning players have been included in the England U21 Women’s camp at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.
Forwards Haineala Lutui, Keevy Fitzpatrick and Tamsin Baynes have been included in the 34-player squad, along with backs Ashton Adcock, Isabelle Clist, Carmela Morrall and Ellen Scantlebury.
Head coach LJ Lewis’ side open their 2026 with a four-day meeting in Berkshire starting this Thursday, then assembling next week at Loughborough University’s Elite Athlete Centre during the Premiership Women’s Rugby break.
Fitzpatrick and Lutui return from Pennyhill Park after training experience with John Mitchell’s Red Roses earlier on this week.
As of the 2025/26 campaign, Lewis’ side will now operate as an U21 age-grade with the ability to call in up to five U23 players. The move is to enable a longer opportunity to support the development of more U18 graduates and a general wider player pool entering their adult rugby journey in an international environment.
Fixtures for England U21 Women, including warm-up matches and the Six Nations schedule, will be announced in due course.
LJ Lewis said: “Throughout the upcoming two-week block, we’re aiming to build on the momentum created in our opening camp of the season in Loughborough pre-Christmas.
“With a wider player pool, our competitive standards within the squad have elevated and we have been pleased with our players’ evident courage and leadership in our short time together.
“The gap in domestic club rugby affords us the opportunity to strengthen our bond as a group and concentrate our efforts on aligning our framework before match activity this spring.”
ENGLAND U21 JANUARY TRAINING CAMP
Forwards
Jasmine Adonri (Trailfinders Women, Dartford Valley Rugby Club, 3 caps)
Tamsin Baynes (Loughborough Lightning, Market Harborough RFC, uncapped)
Zoë Dare (Exeter Chiefs, Cullompton RFC, uncapped)
Keevy Fitzpatrick (Loughborough Lightning, Sudbury RFC, 2 caps)
Zara Green (Harlequins, Lewes RFC, 2 caps)
Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, Easts Tigers Rugby Union, uncapped)
Aisha Jah (Bristol Bears, Mansfield, uncapped)
Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, Ealing Trailfinders, uncapped)
Grace Keel (Harlequins, North Bristol, uncapped)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, Worcester RFC, 2 caps)
Sophie McQueen (Gloucester-Hartpury, Chippenham RFC, 3 caps)
Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, Wimbledon RFC, 5 caps)
Maddy Page (Harlequins, Buckingham RFC, 2 caps)
Lilly Plowman (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, 2 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, Crediton RFC, uncapped)
Lucy Simpson (Gloucester-Hartpury, Rams RFC, 3 caps)
Jodie Verghese (Saracens, Thurrock RFC, uncapped)
Ellie Wilson (Gloucester-Hartpury, Gosford All Blacks, uncapped)
Ruby Winstanley (Harlequins, Guildfordians RFC, uncapped)
Backs
Ashton Adcock (Loughborough Lightning, Tamworth, 1 cap)
Molly Bunker (Gloucester-Hartpury, Havant RFC, 2 caps)
Isabelle Clist (Loughborough Lightning, Cullompton, uncapped)
Ella Cromack (Harlequins, Reading RFC, 7 caps)
Nikki Davenhill (Hartpury University, Evesham RFC, uncapped)
Katherine Dyke (Exeter University, Winscombe Warriors, uncapped)
Sophie Hopkins (LOU Rugby, Fullerians RFC, 7 caps) *
Eva Ladyman (Loughborough University, Olney, uncapped)
Poppy Love (Trailfinders Women, Grasshoppers RFC, 2 caps)
Jemma-Jo Linkins (Saracens, Ashford RFC, uncapped)
Carmela Morrall (Loughborough Lightning, Dubai Hurricanes, 7 caps)
Ellen Scantlebury (Loughborough Lightning, Winscombe RFC, uncapped)
Solana Shaw de Leon (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom, uncapped)
Francesca Welsher (Exeter University, Winscombe, uncapped)
Grace White (Trailfinders Women, Winscombe RFC, 1 cap)
*Playing for LOU Rugby whilst on a study placement year