England Students Women's squad named for 2026 fixture against UK Armed Forces side

England Students Women's Head Coach Andrew Ford has named his 23-player squad to face the UKAF on Saturday afternoon (11 July, kick-off: 5pm BST).

It is the second year for the programme since its momentous return in last year's 74-22 victory over the UKAF Women's Rugby team.

This year the squad will be led on the field by co-captains Ellie Roberts and Eva Sterritt. Roberts, who starts at No. 8, is fresh off the back of helping lead her Loughborough University side to a first BUCS Super Rugby title in 21 years, whilst Sterritt, who starts on the wing, has also been captain of Exeter University this season.

In the pack, Hannah Sams is one of the only returners from last year's victory, starting at tighthead. She's joined in the front row by club teammate Lucy Ward at loosehead and University of Law and Tigers Women's hooker Alana Bainbridge.

At lock, the only other returner from last year's 74-22 victory, Eryn Sinkler, is joined by her club teammate Martha Green. Closing out the pack and joining Roberts in the back row are another Exeter forward, Izzy Newnes-Smith, who starts at blindside, and Loughborough University's Sarah Shrestha.

In the backs, Brunel Women and Trailfinders Women scrum-half Sophie Molton partners Hartpury's Rebecca Jackson at fly-half. In the midfield, Exeter's Sophie Langford is joined by Hartpury outside centre Molly Allen.

Joining Sterritt in the backline are Morgan Burke from Cardiff Met and Nikki Davenhill from Hartpury University on the other wing.

It's a Brunel University-dominated replacement bench, with Nicole Waring, Isla Pomroy, Lucy Sharpe and Emily Lunn all set to come off the bench, as well as Isabel van der Stratten from Bristol, Chloe Benjamin from Surrey and Evie Haskell from Newcastle.

Leading the side alongside Head Coach Ford are assistant coaches Poppy Leitch and Lisa Newton. The game will be played at Cobham RFC, with entry free for all.

On the fixture, Ford said: "We can't wait for Saturday afternoon. The group have gelled really well and have taken on board those key principles of adopting one another, becoming a family and being authentic to themselves.

"We've had an excellent training week kindly hosted at Aldershot Garrison the home of the British Army, and Saturday's performance will be a culmination of all of these players' hard work both across this week and their university careers."

The England Students Women's programme has been generously supported by UKAF Rugby and sponsored by Mind Foundry.

England Students Women's squad to take on UKAF

Saturday 11 July

Cobham RFC

Kick-off: 5pm

15. Morgan Burke- Cardiff Metropolitan University

14. NikkI Davenhill- Hartpury University

13. Molly Allen- Hartpury University

12. Sophie Langford- University of Exeter

11. Eva Sterritt (cc)- Exeter University

10. Rebecca Jackson- Hartpury University

9. Sophie Molton- Brunel University London

1. Lucy Ward- University of Exeter

2. Alana Bainbridge- University of Law

3. Hannah Sams- University of Exeter

4. Eryn Sinkler- Hartpury University

5. Martha Green- Hartpury University

6. Izzy Newnes-Smith- University of Exeter

7. Sarah Shrestha- Loughborough University

8. Ellie Roberts- Loughborough University

Replacements:

16. Nicole Waring- Brunel University London

17. Isla Pomroy- Brunel University London

18. Isabel van der Stratten- University of Bristol

19. Chloe Benjamin- University of Surrey

20. Anna Richardson- University of Exeter

21. Lucy Sharpe- Brunel University London

22. Evie Haskell- Newcastle University

23. Emily Lunn- Brunel University London