England women's national under-21 rugby union team

England U-21 Women
UnionRugby Football Union
EmblemRed Rose
GroundVarious
CoachLJ Lewis

The England women's national under-21 rugby union team represents England in women's age-grade international rugby union at under-21 level. The team is governed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and forms part of the England Women's Performance Pathway, which bridges the gap between domestic club rugby and the senior England women's national rugby union team.[1]

The team was formerly known as the England women's national under-20 rugby union team. From the 2026 season, following a restructuring by Six Nations Rugby, the programme was elevated to under-21 level.[a][2] This change accompanied the replacement of the Six Nations Women's U20 Summer Series with the new Six Nations Women's U21 Series.[3]

Players

Current squad

In February 2026, head coach LJ Lewis named a 34-playerdevelopment ahead of the 2026 Six Nations Women's U21 Series.[3]

Coaching staff

LJ Lewis was appointed head coach in July 2023.[4][5] Sarah McKenna, Women's Six Nations Championship Grand Slam winner, was appointed assistant coach ahead of the 2023–24 season and has continued in the role following the transition to Under-21 level.[4][2]

Results

Results summary

The following table shows England's U20 and U21 record against each opponent.

Correct as of 17 July 2025

Opponent First game Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
British Police 2005 1 1 0 0 100%
British Army 2015 6 6 0 0 100%
 Canada U20 2008 12 10 0 2 83.33%
 France U20/21 2010 27 2 1 24 7.40%
 Ireland U20/21 2024 1 1 0 0 100%
 Italy U20/21 2025 1 1 0 0 100%
 Scotland U20/21 2011 4 4 0 0 100%
 South Africa (Senior) 2021 2 0 0 2 0%
 South Africa U20 2011 3 2 0 1 66.67%
 United States U20 2009 8 6 0 2 75%
 Wales U20/21 2008 9 9 0 0 100%

Overall record

Correct as of 17 July 2025

Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
74 42 1 31 56.76%

Honours

  • Women's U20 Nations Cup champions[6]
Winners (3) 2008, 2009, 2011
Third place (1): 2013
  • U20 Women's Tri-Nations[7]
Winners (2): 2018, 2019

Six Nations Women's U21 Series[8]

Runners-up (1): 2025
Third place (1): 2024

Notes

  1. ^ Each squad can include up to five players aged up to 23

References

  1. ^ "England U20 Women to play in inaugural Six Nations Summer Series". Rugby Football Union. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b "England U21 Women name 34-player December training squad". Rugby Football Union. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b "England U21 Women name squad for February development camp". Rugby Football Union. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b "England U20 Women name first training squad of 2024". Rugby Football Union. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  5. ^ "Laura-Jane Lewis appointed England U20 Women's head coach". Rugby Football Union. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Women's Nations Cup". Rugby Archive. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  7. ^ "England Women U20". Rugby Archive. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  8. ^ "RugbyArchive Women's U20 Six Nations Summer Series". Rugby Archive. Retrieved 8 March 2026.