Latest news with #RedRoses
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hard work paid off says captain Roboam as France go unbeaten
France captain Lou Roboam said her team's hard work had paid off after they finished the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series as the only team with a 100 per cent record. After beating Italy 46-5 on Matchday 1 and Ireland 41-12 last Friday, Les Bleuettes downed England 52-39 in Caerphilly to complete a clean sweep of victories. Doubles from Faustine Piscicelli and Elina Folituu and further scores from Mailys Borak, Anaick Konyi, Zoe Jean and Julie Espinosa made sure France took the spoils in the battle between the two unbeaten sides. She said: 'We have had a really good Summer Series. We've worked incredibly hard and winning all our matches feels great. And to beat the English too, that makes me feel really good and very proud.' It was an entertaining encounter in the competition's final match, and although France had their noses in front from the 18th minute onwards, England refused to lie down. The young Red Roses scored six tries of their own through Amelia MacDougall, Grace Clifford, Lucie Sams, captain Lucy Calladine, Sophie McQueen and Zara Green. Roboam was always expecting their opponents to come at them as the two unbeaten teams competed against each other in South Wales. 'Our goal was to stick to the game plan and that's what we did,' she continued. 'The English team was a very good team and that's why we're even more proud to have won the game.' This has been the second incarnation of the Women's Summer Series, a tournament designed to give U20s players the opportunity to play more competitive rugby to help with their development. France won all three of their games in 2024 to go with this year's trio of triumphs and Roboam was grateful that her and her contemporaries had been given a platform to show what they could do. She added: 'Obviously, games like this are really important, and it gives an opportunity to players to be seen and to hopefully be able to go to the next level.'France captain Lou Roboam said her team's hard work had paid off after they finished the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series as the only team with a 100 per cent record. After beating Italy 46-5 on Matchday 1 and Ireland 41-12 last Friday, Les Bleuettes downed England 52-39 in Caerphilly to complete a clean sweep of victories. Doubles from Faustine Piscicelli and Elina Folituu and further scores from Mailys Borak, Anaick Konyi, Zoe Jean and Julie Espinosa made sure France took the spoils in the battle between the two unbeaten sides. She said: 'We have had a really good Summer Series. We've worked incredibly hard and winning all our matches feels great. And to beat the English too, that makes me feel really good and very proud.' It was an entertaining encounter in the competition's final match, and although France had their noses in front from the 18th minute onwards, England refused to lie down. The young Red Roses scored six tries of their own through Amelia MacDougall, Grace Clifford, Lucie Sams, captain Lucy Calladine, Sophie McQueen and Zara Green. Roboam was always expecting their opponents to come at them as the two unbeaten teams competed against each other in South wales. 'Our goal was to stick to the game plan and that's what we did,' she continued. 'The English team was a very good team and that's why we're even more proud to have won the game.' This has been the second incarnation of the Women's Summer Series, a tournament designed to give U20s players the opportunity to play more competitive rugby to help with their development. France won all three of their games in 2024 to go with this year's trio of triumphs and Roboam was grateful that her and her contemporaries had been given a platform to show what they could do. She added: 'Obviously, games like this are really important, and it gives an opportunity to players to be seen and to hopefully be able to go to the next level.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calladine bursting with pride at teammates' efforts despite France loss
By Phil Campbell England captain Lucy Calladine was bursting with pride with her teammates' efforts despite falling to a 52-39 loss against France in their final match of the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series. France ran in eight scores during the gripping encounter in Caerphilly, but England gave as good as they got and scored six tries of their own through Amelia MacDougall, Grace Clifford, Lucie Sams, Calladine, Sophie McQueen and Zara Green. The result also represented a marked improvement from 12 months ago in Italy when France downed the U20 Red Roses 72-21. And Calladine, who plays domestically for Loughborough Lightning in Premiership Women's Rugby, said the nature of her team's performance made it feel like they'd won. 'I'm so proud,' she said. 'That scoreline is the closest it's ever been [against France] during the whole four years I've been involved. I'm so proud of the girls. They all worked so incredibly hard and it's a win in our eyes.' England beat Scotland 31-17 in their opening Women's Summer Series game before coming from 15-0 down at half-time against Italy to win 36-20 in their second. It means they finished alongside Ireland who also won two of their matches. Calladine explained she'd enjoyed being able to lead her team during the competition in Wales and hinted there is more to come from her side. 'This team makes it incredibly easy for me to be captain,' she continued. 'They're all so kind, so caring and they work incredibly hard for each other. Honestly, I couldn't ask for more from a team. What they do makes it so easy for me. We had a great two wins and obviously this [result] doesn't reflect how good we are as a team.' This has been the second incarnation of the Women's Summer Series, a tournament designed to give U20s players the opportunity to play more competitive rugby to help with their development. Calladine was grateful that her and her contemporaries had been given a platform to show what they could do. '[This tournament is] massive, especially with the World Cup coming up,' she added. 'It just shows you how cool the talent is coming forward. It's important to play these games, especially against the likes of France, because it just makes us a better team, and it makes for exciting rugby. 'More people are coming every year to watch. I've been doing it for three or four years now and the crowds have just got bigger and bigger. We always talk about how can we leave the shirt in the best place and I think we've done that today, so I'm really happy.'
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Morrall gunning to end France's run with final day victory
The young Red Roses have been on the wrong side of recent results with Les Bleuettes, but have a chance to reverse that on Thursday. They take on France at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, with both sides' unbeaten status on the line. 'It is a really big thing for us this year, we have been on the wrong side of the result a lot in the past few years,' the Loughborough Lightning centre said. 'It would mean a lot to all of us, particularly as a lot of us are second years, so we are not eligible for 20s in the future. 'It is something exciting for us and something we would really really like to finish on a high. It would be awesome for a lot of us to finish that last game and get on the right side of the result and beat the French because it has been a long time coming, so hopefully we can do that. 'France are a very good side, they play some really exciting rugby, and they like to attack a lot, so looking at that, we have some good strategies and plans to hopefully defer that towards us and put us in a positive light. 'It should be a very tough game, but a very exciting game because we are really up for it. Team news 🚨 England U20 Women's head coach LJ Lewis has named her squad to face France on matchday three of the Six Nations Summer Series.#U6NSummerSeries — Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) July 16, 2025 'But we can never put the French aside because we know they are always a strong team, they are always going to put in a big fight against us.' England defeated Scotland to get their campaign up and running in South Wales before coming from behind to beat Italy last time out. Meanwhile, France saw off le Azzurre in their opening encounter, before scoring 24 unanswered second-half points against Ireland to set up a barnstorming finish with the Red Roses. Morrall, who was born and raised in Dubai, was named Player of the Match for England in their fightback against Italy. She praised the team's bond for their comeback from 15-0 down at half-time, something which has been a focal point for the squad this year. The 20-year-old added: 'It has been one of our key focuses in camps, since the first camp, it has been one of the key pillars in our culture. 'Throughout this camp and through previous camps, we have been doing a lot of player bonds, so activities outside of rugby, where we just get together and connect. 'That has definitely grown our connections as a team this year. Everyone is so much closer than we have been in the past. 'There are also a lot of girls from the same club, so that helps with that connection. Everyone knows each other really well. 'But as a whole, it is down to the fact that we spend a lot of time outside of rugby, getting to know each other.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Hyett relishing chance to show what England can do
The two sides face off against one another in the opening round of fixtures of the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, South Wales. It is the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in Italy last year, when England won two of their three matches. Twenty-year-old centre Hyett, who tasted Premiership Women's Rugby glory with Gloucester Hartpury earlier this year, is keen for England to focus on their own game and let everything else take care of itself. 'I'm excited for [the Scotland game] and I think it'll be a really good battle,' said Worcester native Hyett. 'We know they're going to be physical and turn up on the day, but it's just about playing our game and doing what we're good at. 'It's a really good chance for this U20 group to showcase what they can do. We've been working really hard this past six or seven months and it's exciting to show what we're about on the pitch.' Following on from the 2024 Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries went on to achieve senior honours during the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations, including England's Lilli Ives Campion. And Hyett, who took up rugby aged four after growing up with three brothers who all played the sport, highlighted the importance of the Women's Summer Series for giving players the opportunity to stand out and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team. 'In the top bracket of the older year of U20s, it's a good step and good time to prepare yourself for senior rugby, whether that's for PWR or the Red Roses. It's everyone's dream to play for the Red Roses,' she added. 'Senior coaches are watching this, and we've already seen players like Millie David, Sarah Parry and Lilli too kick on, so it's great that progression is there.' With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. Spread across three dates during July, England will also face Italy on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against France six days later. Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, added: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.'
South Wales Guardian
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Hyett relishing chance to show what England can do
The two sides face off against one another in the opening round of fixtures of the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, South Wales. It is the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in Italy last year, when England won two of their three matches. Twenty-year-old centre Hyett, who tasted Premiership Women's Rugby glory with Gloucester Hartpury earlier this year, is keen for England to focus on their own game and let everything else take care of itself. 'I'm excited for [the Scotland game] and I think it'll be a really good battle,' said Worcester native Hyett. 'We know they're going to be physical and turn up on the day, but it's just about playing our game and doing what we're good at. 'It's a really good chance for this U20 group to showcase what they can do. We've been working really hard this past six or seven months and it's exciting to show what we're about on the pitch.' Following on from the 2024 Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries went on to achieve senior honours during the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations, including England's Lilli Ives Campion. And Hyett, who took up rugby aged four after growing up with three brothers who all played the sport, highlighted the importance of the Women's Summer Series for giving players the opportunity to stand out and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team. 'In the top bracket of the older year of U20s, it's a good step and good time to prepare yourself for senior rugby, whether that's for PWR or the Red Roses. It's everyone's dream to play for the Red Roses,' she added. 'Senior coaches are watching this, and we've already seen players like Millie David, Sarah Parry and Lilli too kick on, so it's great that progression is there.' With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. Spread across three dates during July, England will also face Italy on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against France six days later. Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, added: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
