Seven Loughborough Lightning players have been selected by England, Ireland and Scotland ahead of this weekend’s final round of 2026 Six Nations Women’s U21 Series fixtures this Saturday (10 May).
In the first fixture of the weekend, Freya Maccoll starts at fullback for Scotland as they take on Italy at the Hive Stadium at 1pm, followed an hour later by Lightning’s Aoibhe Kelly, who starts at scrum-half for Ireland when they take on Wales at the CCB centre.
The final fixture of the series sees England take on France at Goldington Road with five Lightning players involved at Bedford Blue’s stadium. Carmela Morrall co-captains the side from inside centre with Keevy Fitzpatrick and Kaya Acton both starting in the pack, while Amelia Williams and Ashton Adcock are both set to come off the bench.
England U21 Women’s team to face France
15 Solana Shaw de Leon (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom, 2 caps)
14 Grace White (Trailfinders Women, Winscombe RFC, 3 caps) *
13 Millie Hyett (Bristol Bears, Evesham RFC, 10 caps)
12 Carmela Morrall (cc) (Loughborough Lightning, Dubai Hurricanes, 9 caps)
11 Jemma-Jo Linkins (Saracens, Ashford RFC, 1 cap) *
10 Ella Cromack (Harlequins, Reading RFC, 9 caps)
9 Amelia MacDougall (Saracens, Old Albanian RFC, 9 caps)
1 Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, Wimbledon RFC, 6 caps)
2 Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, Ealing Trailfinders, 2 caps)
3 Aisha Jah (Bristol Bears, Mansfield, 2 caps)
4 Grace Keel (Harlequins, North Bristol, 2 caps)
5 Keevy Fitzpatrick (Loughborough Lightning, Sudbury RFC, 4 caps)
6 Zoë Dare (Exeter Chiefs, Cullompton RFC, 1 cap) *
7 Kaya Acton (Loughborough Lightning, Hull Ionians RFC, 1 cap)
8 Sophie McQueen (cc) (Gloucester-Hartpury, Chippenham RFC, 5 caps)
Replacements
16 Lucy Simpson (Gloucester-Hartpury, Rams RFC, 4 caps)
17 Amelia Williams (Loughborough Lightning, Medway RFC, 12 caps)
18 Lilly Plowman (Exeter Chiefs, Crediton RFC, 3 caps)
19 Jasmine Adonri (Trailfinders Women, Dartford Valley Rugby Club, 4 caps)
20 Honey Kerslake (Nolli Waterman PDG, Exeter College, 1 cap)
21 Ashton Adcock (Loughborough Lightning, Tamworth, 2 caps)
22 Molly Bunker (Gloucester-Hartpury, Havant RFC, 4 caps)
23 Lauren Bailey (Bristol Bears, Dings Crusaders, 1 cap)
Scotland U21 Women’s Team to face Italy
15. Freya MacColl (Loughborough Lightning/Loughborough University)
14. Scarlett Haddow (Edinburgh Rugby/Stirling County)
13. Nicole Flynn (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
12. Lucy MacRae – Vice-captain (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
11. Lisa Brown (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
10. Poppy Mellanby (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
9. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
1. Poppy Fletcher (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
2. Megan Hyland – Captain (Glasgow Warriors/Heriots Rugby Club)
3. Imogen Spence (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
4. Aisla Merryweather (Glasgow Warriors/Surrey University)
5. Gemma Thomson (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
6. Scarlet Down (Brunel University/Trailfinders Women)
7. Isobel Twigger (Brunel University)
8. Catriona Moody (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
Replacements
16. Aila Ronald (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
17. Talei Tawake (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)
18. Faye Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby/Heriots Rugby Club)
19. Charlotte Russell (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)
20. Merryn Gunderson (Edinburgh Rugby)
21. Rianna Darroch – Glasgow Warriors/Hillhead Jordanhill
22. Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC
23. Emily Love (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)
Ireland U21 Women’s team to face Wales
15. Teni Onigbode
14. Katie Corrigan
13. Niamh Murphy
12. Lucia Linn (C)
11. Emily Foley
10. Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton
9. Aoibhe Kelly
1. Ella Burns
2. Emma Dunican
3. Roisin Maher
4. Aoibhe O’Flynn
5. Naoise Smyth
6. Sally Kelly
7. Ailish Quinn
8. Jemima Adams Verling
Replacements
16. Sarah Delaney
17. Grainne Burke
18. Alisha Flynn
19. Aoibheann McGrath
20. Poppy Garvey
21. Siofra Hession
22. Leah Irwin
23. Chisom Ugwueru