Chiefs quartet in England U20s squad

By Mark Stevens
13/4/23

Four Exeter Chiefs players have been named in the England Women’s Under-20s side to take on France U20s this Saturday, 15 March (4pm) in Tours, the second in the two-match series between the nations.

Flanker Maisy Allen, who will co-captain the side with fly-half Lizzie Duffy, heads up the Chiefs contingent which also includes Katie Buchanan, Nancy McGillivray and Niamh Orchard.

Orchard packs down in the England second-row, while Allen is named at open-side flanker, McGillivray starts in the centre with Buchanan on the wing following a strong performance a week ago.

Head coach Lou Meadows said: “Last Saturday taught us some crucial lessons in how a well organised side will punish you if you give them too much possession. The French brought the physicality we expected and made us pay for our errors.

“After starting strong, with a notable improvement in our discipline from the Scotland game, we maintained control in the line-out and scored three well executed tries but this was not enough.

“The squad's response this week has been really honest and we've trained really well on and off the pitch to ensure our decision making matches our intention to play and control possession.

“The two test series with France is a massive opportunity for these players to physically and mentally push themselves beyond what they would have experienced so far in their careers. I'm looking forward to seeing them embrace this head on and perform under the pressures of what I'm sure will be a large, passionate French crowd in Tours on Saturday."

England U20 team vs France U20

15. Francesca Goldthorp (Loughborough Lightning)
14. Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs)
13. Phillipa Hendy (Gloucester-Hartpury)
12. Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs)
11. Grace White (Bristol Bears)
10. Lizzie Duffy (CC; Sale Sharks)
9. Tori Sellors (Worcester Warriors)
1. Catherine Wells (University Worcester Warriors Women)
2. Amy Dale (Gloucester-Hartpury)
3. Grace Clifford (Loughborough Lightning)
4. Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning)
5. Niamh Orchard (Exeter Chiefs)
6. Kendall Waudby (Loughborough Lightning)
7. Maisy Allen (CC; Exeter Chiefs)
8. Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears)

16. Niamh Swailes (Sale Sharks)
17. Katherine Baverstock (Loughborough Lightning)
18. Niamh Williams (Wasps FC)
19. Steph Else (Gloucester-Hartpury)
20. Nicole Wythe (Harlequins)
21. Lucy Weaver (Loughborough Lightning)
22. April Ishida (Darlington Mowden Park)
23. Leah Brough (University Worcester Warriors Women)